Hello, Please can you let me know how many official complaints have been lodged by London residents in the last three years about tube noise.

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TfL Ref: 3245-1819 

 

Thank you for your email received by us on 28 February 2019 asking for information about the number of complaints lodged by London residents in the last three years concerning London Underground noise. 

 

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require.  

 

Tackling residential, operational staff and travelling customer noise complaints is ongoing – whilst we are aware of all the noise hotspots, we are limited with the works that can be done to address noise. 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 trialling/aim to trial in an attempt to reduce noise. For example, a new product called SilentTrack was installed on the westbound track between North Greenwich and Canary Wharf in January 2019. We are currently monitoring to assess the impact of this on noise and the growth rate of rail defects. Of course, if deemed successful, we can review the option of installing on other sites. 

 

We are also currently installing softer pads throughout our resilient track fastening sites to reduce the airborne noise experienced by passengers. Our loudest sites have already been completed and we are currently measuring the reduction in noise. Additionally, TfL is also trialling other rail damping technology and a recent installation has been carried out on the Jubilee line. We aim to have reduced the airborne noise in tunnels by the end of 2019. 

 

In the meantime, customers and residents affected by noise can advise us of their concerns by calling our 24 hour Customer Contact Centre on 0343 222 1234 where lines are open seven days a week, or register their complaints via the following link to our website: https://tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/

 

 

I can advise that we have received a total of 1047 complaints since April 2016. 

 

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 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 

 

 

Jasmine Howard 

FOI Case Officer 

Information Governance 

Transport For London 

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