Request ID: FOI-2296-2324 Date published: 23 October 2023
You asked
Good afternoon,
Hope you're well.
I am writing in regarding the noise on the eastbound Central line between Holland Park and Notting Hill Gate. While I appreciate there is no legal limit for noise on London Underground, the noise gets to the point that you cannot hear anything else and has set off warnings on various devices saying words to the effect of "Prolonged exposure to this noise is harmful for human hearing".
Does TfL have any plans to tackle the noise, either by grinding or replacement of the track, and if so, when is this scheduled to take place? I note that I previously raised this to Customer Services and TfL responded on 23 Jan 2020 (reference CRM001:0975000003533) saying that the operative's understanding was that it would be done within the next couple of months. Judging by the fact that the noise has not changed on my many travels on the Central line, it would seem that nothing has happened for at least 3.5 years.
I would also appreciate any maintenance logs for this bit of track which shows any grinding / track replacement / other maintenance works done to help reduce the noise levels within the past 5 years to confirm whether my understanding is correct.
Do let me know if you need anything else.
Best wishes
We answered
TfL Ref: EIR-2296-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 28th September 2023 asking for information about noise on the Central line. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“I am writing in regarding the noise on the eastbound Central line between Holland Park and Notting Hill Gate. While I appreciate there is no legal limit for noise on London Underground, the noise gets to the point that you cannot hear anything else and has set off warnings on various devices saying words to the effect of "Prolonged exposure to this noise is harmful for human hearing".
Does TfL have any plans to tackle the noise, either by grinding or replacement of the track, and if so, when is this scheduled to take place? I note that I previously raised this to Customer Services and TfL responded on 23 Jan 2020 (reference CRM001:0975000003533) saying that the operative's understanding was that it would be done within the next couple of months. Judging by the fact that the noise has not changed on my many travels on the Central line, it would seem that nothing has happened for at least 3.5 years.
I would also appreciate any maintenance logs for this bit of track which shows any grinding / track replacement / other maintenance works done to help reduce the noise levels within the past 5 years to confirm whether my understanding is correct.”
I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
The table below shows the record of rail grinding that has taken place on the track between Holland Park and Notting Hill Gate in the last 5 years.
Line
LCS Code
LCS Description
Total Length
Driver
Machine
Date
Start
End
Total
CEN
C136/CEBFA
PLT2 HOLLAND PARK TOR TO PLT3 NOTTING HILL GATE TOR
490
RCF/CORRUGATION
RGU
02/04/2019
210
380
170
CEN
C136/CEBFA
PLT2 HOLLAND PARK TOR TO PLT3 NOTTING HILL GATE TOR
490
PV
RGU
22/09/2019
215
438
223
CEN
C136/CEBFA
PLT2 HOLLAND PARK TOR TO PLT3 NOTTING HILL GATE TOR
490
PV
RGU
22/09/2019
438
485
47
CEN
C136/CEBFA
PLT2 HOLLAND PARK TOR TO PLT3 NOTTING HILL GATE TOR
490
PV
RGU
26/01/2020
170
380
210
CEN
C136/CEBFA
PLT2 HOLLAND PARK TOR TO PLT3 NOTTING HILL GATE TOR
490
PV
RGU
26/01/2020
380
489
109
More general maintenance that has taken place in the same period is shown in the table below. This work was all completed prior to 2020 and no other work has been undertaken since:
15231437
Conductor Rail - Negative Ramp - HS & LS 65kg/m - Vertical Position (Mean Design Position - 33 mm for HS / - 35 mm for LS) - Max Deviation Of Lower End Of Ramp ML: - 14 mm to - 49 mm Below Top Of Running Rail Job Plan: CONDUCTOR RAIL MAINTENANCE < 90M - NIGHT POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE RAMPS NHG SUB GAPS RAIL GRINDING REQUIRED.
15231438
Conductor Rail - Insulators - ML: 4 per 100m Cracked/Broken/Secured By Less Than 4 screws/Defective Packing Job Plan: CONDUCTOR RAIL MAINTENANCE < 90M - NIGHT BENCHING AROUND POSITIVE POT BROKEN
15231439
Running Rail - Vertical Profile (long undulations - 5 metre intervals) - ML: 7 mm Job Plan: REALIGN TRACK (BALLASTED) - NIGHT CORRUGATION TO VANGAURD SITE
This stretch of track has been designated for further rail grinding to take place, currently scheduled towards the end of November 2023.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
