Request ID: FOI-3089-2324 Date published: 22 January 2024
You asked
I would like to receive the following information:
1. The average noise level recorded on the Bakerloo line, Central line, Circle line, District line, Hammersmith & City line, Jubilee line, Metropolitan line, Piccadilly line, Victoria line, and Waterloo & City line for each year from: 2016 to 2022(Dhillon
2. TFL-recorded data concerning the impact of the Pandrol Vanguard track fastening product in 2016.
3. The number of complaints Tfl received concerning in-tunnel noise from the day January 1 2016 to December 31 2022.
4. The number of tube noise interventions from January 1 2019 to December 31 2022,
5. The amount of money invested in reducing in-tunnel noise from the year January 1 2016 to December 31 2022.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-3089-2324
Thank you for your request received on 28 November 2023 asking for information about noise levels on the London Underground. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked for: 1. The average noise level recorded on the Bakerloo line, Central line, Circle line, District line, Hammersmith & City line, Jubilee line, Metropolitan line, Piccadilly line, Victoria line, and Waterloo & City line for each year from: 2016 to 2022 We monitor the health risks relating to noise exposure for our colleagues who spend the majority of their working day on the network, e.g. train operators. Train operators’ exposure to noise while driving trains during their shifts is within the legal requirements set by the Health & Safety Executive. We have previously undertaken some noise surveys based on a representative sample of duties as train operator shifts can vary significantly. However, these did not include an average noise level for the line as it did not correctly reflect train operator exposure to noise as duties do not encompass runs over the entire line. 2. TFL-recorded data concerning the impact of the Pandrol Vanguard track fastening product in 2016. Please see below the noise levels measured within various train operator cabs for sites fitted with Pandrol Vanguard (PV) track fastenings. In train noise levels generally increased where PV was installed due to the rapid growth of rail corrugation, this has been mitigated with rail grinding until the PV can be eventually removed. There are other locations on the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines where PV was fitted but noise levels were not an issue. There are variations in levels between readings and this is due to numerous factors, the most prominent are; • Current rail corrugation / time since the last rail grinding • Train speeds, although some trips were slower due to traffic or speed restrictions. • Specific vehicle characteristics such as wheel profiles, suspension and door seals. Some locations have had the PV system removed but are still monitored.
Noise levels recorded within the train operator cab at station to station sections fitted with Pandrol Vanguard track fastenings
Jubilee
05/11/2019
19/11/2019
03/12/2019
19/12/2019
15/01/2020
20/02/2020
11/03/2020
15/09/2021
24/11/2021
24/03/2022
14/07/2022
30/09/2022
08/11/2022
20/12/2022
24/03/2023
24/04/2023
12/06/2023
07/08/2023
02/10/2023
27/11/2023
Station From
Station To
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
St John's Wood
Baker Street
83
82
84
82
87
87
86
91
94
93
86
85
87
86
88
88
88
88
89
87
Green Park
Bond Street
84
82
83
85
85
84
90
89
88
93
84
89
90
91
85
85
87
85
87
91
Central
14/11/2019
28/11/2019
10/12/2019
15/01/2020
04/02/2020
25/02/2020
21/10/2021
14/12/2021
30/06/2022
16/08/2022
04/10/2022
29/11/2022
24/01/2023
13/07/2023
04/09/2023
30/10/2023
Station From
Station To
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
Leytonstone
Wanstead
87
85
87
89
91
88
91
90
89
90
87
88
90
86
87
87
Wanstead
Leytonstone
87
86
88
88
90
87
87
91
96
96
93
89
89
92
92
90
Liverpool Street
Bethnal Green
91
90
89
92
88
89
93
96
95
93
91
93
95
93
94
91
Tottenham Court Road
Holborn
75
77
73
77
76
75
76
80
81
77
77
78
76
82
75
76
Holland Park
Notting Hill Gate
82
86
86
88
82
81
88
91
92
90
91
91
91
96
96
94
Holland Park
Shepherds Bush
81
81
79
84
82
81
81
85
84
84
82
82
89
81
88
Victoria
14/11/2019
28/11/2019
10/12/2019
23/01/2020
11/02/2020
13/03/2020
03/11/2021
01/12/2021
19/05/2022
23/09/2022
23/09/2022
18/11/2022
13/01/2023
02/05/2023
26/06/2023
08/08/2023
Station From
Station To
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
Pimlico
Victoria
86
88
89
88
90
82
91
90
89
88
88
84
90
97
85
85
Stockwell
Vauxhall
87
89
89
89
91
88
87
84
90
88
88
91
90
93
93
91
Euston
King's Cross
81
82
82
81
82
81
84
83
86
83
83
77
79
82
83
82
Vauxhall
Stockwell
88
87
88
90
91
91
86
83
89
89
89
87
87
90
90
81
King's Cross
Euston
80
80
75
83
84
78
89
89
90
89
89
91
89
92
91
75
Oxford Circus
Warren Street
78
80
79
81
84
75
87
74
91
89
89
78
80
90
90
78
Oxford Circus
Green Park
77
79
75
82
79
85
79
75
73
73
74
82
74
76
70
Northern
11/11/2019
04/12/2019
19/12/2019
23/01/2020
12/02/2020
02/03/2020
20/10/2021
01/12/2021
17/05/2022
20/07/2022
26/08/2022
18/10/2022
31/01/2023
30/05/2023
24/07/2023
18/09/2023
Station From
Station To
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
dB LAeq
Kentish Town
Tufnell Park
85
80
83
86
86
87
91
87
88
83
80
81
78
84
85
85
Camden Town
Kentish Town
80
77
81
84
80
82
93
90
89
84
79
82
82
87
90
89
Kentish Town
Camden Town
76
78
83
82
83
82
90
90
91
79
79
79
80
84
86
87
Euston
Camden Town
80
83
88
81
86
84
88
90
88
90
91
91
86
87
89
88
Camden Town
Euston
84
82
87
85
87
86
88
88
91
89
89
88
84
87
89
89
South Wimbledon
Colliers Wood
78
77
79
79
81
81
79
82
83
79
77
South Wimbledon
Morden
82
84
87
85
85
83
84
85
80
79
80
3. The number of complaints TfL received concerning in-tunnel noise from the day January 1 2016 to December 31 2022. From 1 September 2020 to 31 December 2022, we had 843 onboard (in-carriage) complaints. Please note that some will be ‘in-tunnel’ and some will be ‘above-ground.’ We do not record whether the complaints relate to in-tunnel or above ground noise. We do not hold data prior to September 2020. 4. The number of tube noise interventions from January 1 2019 to December 31 2022, We do not hold a separate record of when works were undertaken specifically in relation to noise interventions. To tackle noise in general, the mitigations carried out are periodical rail grinding to smooth the rails, lubrication of the rails, and renewal of track componentry that helped to reduce the in-tunnel noise. These works are ongoing. 5. The amount of money Noise and vibration management work is tackled through maintenance activities. We do not hold a separate figure from the overall maintenance budget for the amount spent on this activity. This work encompasses grinding the rails and defect management of which both have an impact on noise and vibration. If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me. Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
