The Anonymous Widower

My Thoughts On Tube Noise At Walthamstow Central

This report in the Standard is entitled Homes in Walthamstow hit by ‘jack-hammer’ Tube train noise after Victoria line upgrade work.

It describes how after all of the upgrade work I described in What Really Happened At Walthamstow Central, noise levels have increased in some of the houses by the station. This is an extract.

Resident Lynda Bailey said the noise, which strikes about every three minutes during peak hours and less frequently the rest of the time, began after Transport for London undertook engineering work over the summer.

“We bought this house about 10 years ago knowing it was above the southbound tunnel of the Victoria line.

“We came a couple of times – it was a rumble but we deemed it to be reasonable noise, as did everyone else.

“But this is unacceptable. I would liken it to a jack-hammer in the next room, like a banging sound … It’s almost like we’re on a Tube platform itself.”

Tonight, I had supper with my son in Walthamstow. He told me how one of his friends lives in a hoise, where the noise has reduced considerably since the work.

It’s all very curious.

Taking my answers from this article in Rail Engineer, there are major differences, indicated in this extract.

Careful survey work of the tunnels checked every millimetre of available space – especially length. The new crossover design is a technical step-change in that it involves the use of Sonneville Low Vibration Track (LVT) – a track system embedded in slab concrete. The point ends have been taken as far as practicable into the tunnels to achieve the longest possible crossover length. Coupled with new components, the maximum speed has been raised to 60kph (35 mph) – enough to secure the required turnround and the 36 trains per hour throughout the line.

Put simply, the crossover should generate less noise because of the Low Vibration Track, but because of the increased speed, more noise could be generated unless LVT was used for a lot more of the line.

I would think that my son’s friend lives over the crossover and its LVT, whereas the other complainants are on lines, where the trains are now going faster. The Standard reports this.

“Our engineers are treating this as a priority and have been improving and renewing the track beneath their properties over the last week.

Hopefully, this will affect a solution. If not, I suspect that London Underground will have a solution in their toolbox.

I have been involved in various noise and vibration issues in the past and in most cases a simple solution is usually found.

If they can’t find one, then I suspect they’ll lay a bit more Low Vibration Track.

October 7, 2015 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | London Underground, Noise, Walthamstow Central Station