The noise is excessive from the DLR from the apartments in the Crossharbour station area.
Request ID: FOI-1967-2324 Date published: 28 September 2023
You asked
- how many noise complaints you have received in the last 3 years in regards to noise from Crossharbour DLR station.
- Confirmation of the acceptable level of environmental noise in residential areas
- what the level of noise is coming from Crossharbour station
- how often the sound levels are checked
We answered
Our ref: FOI-1967-2324/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 2 September 2023 asking for information about noise from the DLR in the Crossharbour station area.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.
We are not clear from your request if you are referring to noise from the Public Address (PA) system at the station, or from the trains (or both).
With regards to the PA system, DLR/TfL’s priority is always the safety of our staff and customers and the public announcement system is used for general and safety critical announcements in a potentially crowded and noisy environment.
Crossharbour Station has many challenges to overcome to ensure messages are clear and audible from wherever staff and passengers are on the platform area. The public address system announcements has to be clear and audible to compensate for DLR trains that arrive and depart, background traffic from the main road (buses, lorries, car’s etc), noise reverberation (e.g. echo noises that bounce of objects (trains, buildings), varying UK weather conditions etc).
The sounds levels are the lowest we can go, else risk public address announcements not being heard. Sound levels are undertaken 12 monthly.
- how many noise complaints you have received in the last 3 years in regards to noise from Crossharbour DLR station. Please see the table below showing the complaints received:
Year
PA noise
Trackside Train noise
Works in Engineering Hrs Trackside or station
From Sept 2020
1
1
2021
9
6
2022
2
1
2
To Sept 2023
7
6
Total
12
15
8
- Confirmation of the acceptable level of environmental noise in residential areas Please see the attached screen shot, from DLR engineering standard ES101: Noise and Vibration policy.
- what the level of noise is coming from Crossharbour station
- how often the sound levels are checked
There are yearly noise checks carried out on specific sections of the DLR, with any individual noise complaints also being investigated by the teams at DLR when they arise. DLR is currently undertaking a noise vibration study, the purpose of which is to highlight areas of excessive rail noise on the DLR, the resulting report will deliver options for technology to try and reduce noise, we have made a requested for Crossharbour to be included into the study.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt
FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
