FOI request detail

Noise on the Northern Line

Request ID: FOI-3173-1920
Date published: 14 February 2020

You asked

1) When was the last time noise was tested on the Northern Line? 2) How many decibels were recorded at the loudest point on the Northern Line? 3) How many complaints have been made in the last 12 months (or similar recording period) from members of the public regarding the levels of noise on the Northern Line? 4) How many complaints have been made in the same period by members of TfL staff regarding the levels of noise on the Northern Line?

We answered

Our Ref:         FOI-3173-1920

Thank you for your request received on 19 January 2020 asking for information about noise on the Northern line.
 
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require.
 
The London Underground network supports around five million customer journeys per day and over 1.3bn journeys a year. We are committed to doing everything we can to minimise Tube noise as far as is reasonably practicable.
 
We are aware of issues with in-carriage noise on our network, including on some sections of the Northern line. We continuously take noise readings and review the track condition to assess what works can be done to reduce noise. There are various engineering initiatives which we are either trialing or plan to trial in an attempt to achieve this. For example, we are currently installing softer pads throughout our resilient track fastening sites to reduce airborne noise. Our loudest sites have already been completed and we are currently measuring the reduction in noise. Additionally, we are trialing other rail damping technology, which was installed on the Jubilee line earlier this year.
 
While customers travelling on our network can experience noise, higher volumes tend to be for short periods of time. Noise limits set out by the Health & Safety Executive are based on exposure over an eight-hour period so Tube customers would need to spend much longer than the average journey on the Tube network in order to reach these thresholds – as long as six hours continuously on the Northern line per day. Health & Safety Executive guidance suggests Tube noise is highly unlikely to cause any long-term damage to customers’ hearing.
 
Anyone affected by noise can contact our dedicated customer services line, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via the link below:
 
https://tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/
 
You asked:
 
1.    When was the last time noise was tested on the Northern Line?
 
Noise tests were last carried out on 16, 17, and 18 December 2019.
 
2.    How many decibels were recorded at the loudest point on the Northern Line?
 
The noise monitoring equipment we use for the London Underground network takes a noise reading several times a second. The noise surveys we undertake are carried out on an entire line three times over a period of two or three days. All of this data is then used to calculate the average noise between two London Underground stations. Some locations between stations may have a short period of louder noise recorded, which is noticeably higher than the average.
 
There was a momentary peak recording of 109dB between Camden Town and Euston. The average level between Camden Town and Euston stations is 81.42dB(A).Please note that this reading was taken from in the train driver’s cab.
 
3.    How many complaints have been made in the last 12 months (or similar recording period) from members of the public regarding the levels of noise on the Northern Line?
 
There were 382 recorded complaints relating to noise on the Northern line between 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2019.
 
4.    How many complaints have been made in the same period by members of TfL staff regarding the levels of noise on the Northern Line?
 
We do not hold this information as it is not recorded. Noise complaints from staff members are usually reported to relevant line managers or via Trade Union Representatives who escalate/highlight these through the various safety meeting structures in place.
 
If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free 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

[email protected]

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