How long does it take to get used to living next to a railway?

[DueToAnUnfortunateWerewolfIncident]

I’m contemplating a flat next to a train line, it’s only about 25 feet away from the fence between the flat and the line and about 3 minutes from the station.

If you’ve had experience of living next to a railway did you ever get used to it and how long before you got use to the noise?

TIA

I’d be buying. It’s a new build home. It doesn’t seem to be putting many people off as they’re selling well.

A few months for me. I like trains so learnt to enjoy the sound. It’s very different to road noise for me.

Thanks everyone. You’ve given me a lot to consider.

I do rather like trains and I do think that I’ll get used to it but I’ll expect it to take some time.

I currently live directly opposite a farm and I barely notice the farm machines when they’re working in the fields so hopefully I’ll become accustomed to the trains.

I used to live right next to a train line, I really enjoyed sitting on the balcony watching the trains. I started by noticing every train and then within a couple of weeks I didn't notice them, and they certainly didn't wake me up.

Luckily the line only ran from 6.30-11.30 so no overnights. But you do definitely get used to it. When I moved away, the silence was deafening.

Well I love railways so it would be less likely to worry me. I have lived beside a railway in London and a tramline now, I quickly tuned out of both. I think the perception of it is much worse than the reality. I'd rather hear the occasional noise of a train passing than the constant drone if traffic, but people get used to that too.

Similar to the above - I've lived 200m from Clapham Junction, directly under landing paths for both Gatwick and Heathrow, above a Tube line, next to the sea and opposite a very loud church clock. None bothered me after a couple of months.

The important factor, for me at least, is that these sounds are regular. I think your brain quickly learns to disregard them, no conscious effort required. I absolutely hated living next to sheep (!) and, while the sea didn't disturb me, the gulls' late-night social gatherings bloody did.

Trees make an effective sound absorber - unlike the concrete baffles installed on a tower block I once occupied next to the DLR. That's when I learned that sound travels upwards, particularly the sound of early-morning train horns 😬

I've got the WCML about 500m from my back garden, albeit buffered by some trees. You really dont notice the trains after a while.

The only time you do notice it is when they're doing overnight works but they do tell you in advance. One year it was over Christmas so that was the year we arranged to go away.

Are the trains electric or diesel. Electric trains are much quieter.
My flat backs onto a railway and the trains don't bother me at all. They were noisier in the past before the line was electrified
As pp said, I only really noticed if a very long noisy diesel goods train goes past at night or if they are doing work on the railway. I like to sleep with my window open a bit in Summer also!

They’re electric so that’s a bonus.

Something like this, I would image.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=1JD353rNvT4

No time at all. The railway is at the bottom of the garden but it's a branch line.

I've lived near a ring road and never got used to that.

Do you use the train line? It might be easier to accept if you're reaping the benefits of being so close.

I used to live in a rented top floor flat in a terraced house in Clapham that backed onto the main railway line. The bedroom faced the track. The first night it felt like the train was in the bedroom with me, noise, vibrations and light. It took maybe a week or two to get used to it. Visitors would sit in the front room and say ' what's that?' as everything vibrated, and we'd say 'what? Oh, trains'.

I have a bit of a day dream about having a Trainline at the bottom of my garden. For some reason, I love the idea of it.

I think there would be something quite soothing about the noise.

Thanks everyone. I moved in yesterday and there are a lot more trains than I expected and they’re definitely noticeable but I don’t find the noise intrusive and I’m enjoying watching them pass by.

That may change in time of course but I think that it’ll be fine. They didn’t keep me awake at all last night and there’s no vibration at all which was my main concern.

Apologies for the very late reply. I’d accidentally hidden the thread but I will use it so it’s a definite bonus to have it just a few minutes away.