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Original poster

Tell me about living next to a railway line...

43 replies

Gravenwithdiamonds · 29/08/2012 16:30

Is it a really bad idea? It's a busy commuter line (not intercity) and the house is very close to it. I can't stand traffic noise/planes but trains don't bother me - I think. Am I kidding myself? Are there any other downsides? The ea has made it very clear that it's very close to the railway, obviously expecting it to put people off - the house is a bargain for its size and location.

We haven't seen it yet so not sure just how loud the trains are (they will be frequent,perhaps 6 an hour?)

OP posts:

Original poster

Gravenwithdiamonds · 29/08/2012 21:56

It's already very cheap for the area (and school catchment) - when you say resale, do you mean it is unlikely to increase in value in line with similar properties? Plus, I assume it would take longer to sell?

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FamiliesShareGerms · 30/08/2012 07:07

Graven, yes, it's unlikely to rise like other properties in the area (assuming any do!) and many people will write it off without viewing it. But you only need one person who wants to buy the house, and an attractive price should get some interest (we sold our railway house within a week)

MistyB · 30/08/2012 07:19

Yes, unlikely to rise in line with other properties and will take longer to sell. Presumably there are others on the road also backing onto the railway.

The house may not have double glazing if the house has been rented or has been lived in by someone who couldn't afford it. Have other houses on the street got double glazing? Double glazing is pretty crucial to lowering heating costs. I would get a quote for new windows and work out if you can afford this as part of the purchasing decision.

Original poster

Gravenwithdiamonds · 30/08/2012 09:09

It wasn't rented and I think there's double-glazing downstairs but possibly not upstairs - it's a bit difficult to tell? It's a cottage that's a bit by itself so there's not a row of houses backing onto the line - the railwat runs almost alongside it.

It's not my 'dream house' so i'm prepared to be disappointed butif we do sant to move to this area, it's the only house we could afford.

Not so worried about resale as we almost certainly wouldn't move again plus it's in London in good schools catchment so I think there would Probably be someone who would want it.but we'll see... If it's that mcih of a bargain, why hasn't it sold yet?

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Original poster

Gravenwithdiamonds · 30/08/2012 09:10

Excuse poor ipad typing...

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thixotropic · 30/08/2012 09:18

What everyone else says. We live right next to a track. I like the noise of the trains. It makes a sort of audio clock for us. Hear the first train - must be 6am, etc.

Agree about maintenance noise. But I am a complete anorak so I actually go out to watch and have a chat if they are doing anything interesting.

MistyB · 30/08/2012 09:48

Perhaps other people are not prepared to make the compromise. If it is the right house for you and you understand what you have paid for and your compromise, then go for it!!

We lived on a busy road in a bigger house than we could have afforded on a quieter street. We were happy with the compromise but it took a long time to sell to us and a long time for us to sell and indeed it did not rise in price as much as nearby houses on quieter streets.

Keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal · 30/08/2012 09:53

The house I grew up in had a railway line at the bottom of the (very long) garden - you could certainly hear it - in fact it used to shake the whole house and rattle the windows (but to be fair this was a house built in 1627!)
You really didn't notice it after a little while - it became part of every day life in the house and I actually missed it when we moved!

When I moved out and bought a house with DH some years later, our house was a bargain price on a new build estate because it was the closest to the railway line!

After a couple of days living there you stopped noticing it. it was only when a friend was round and they would hear it and point it out that you'd notice. And again it was quite comforting having that sound around again.

In my experience it just becomes like another quirky feature of the house like a creaky staircase or loose floorboard. You don't notice and point those sorts of things out every time you come across them in the house do you?

I think it would be fine to live there yourself - wouldn't bother me in the slightest, but if you are looking to move on in a few years, be prepared for it to be that bit more difficult to sell as it may put some people off!

Busyoldfool · 30/08/2012 22:42

I have London overground at bottom of garden. Love it. Agree with the positives, (security at the back, not being overlooked, good value for money, comforting noises..); and I can live with the negatives ; (occasional maintenance, (with massive searchlights!!), can't hear radio in garden in summer, vibrations when the heavy goods trains go through at night. The only visitor who commented was a Japanese friend who stayed overnight and the vibrations made him think there was going to be an earthquake!!!

HappyAsEyeAm · 30/08/2012 23:38

I lived very near a railway line for about 4 years. I would never buy a house (though I might rent) near a railway line again. I found it intrusive, noisy, dirty (black dust type thing all over the balcony) and really disruptive - to the extent that I didn't ever want to use our balcony and enjoy the lovely view we had over the marina on the other side of the flat.

SwedishEdith · 30/08/2012 23:56

That's funny about the Japanese visitor. I gew up with a trainline at the bottom of the garden (loved it) and one day was woken up rumbling and a vibrating bed. I looked out of window assuming it was a train crash but there had actually been an earthquake

ExitStencilist · 31/08/2012 00:14

I live near the train line, I like the sound. And I can tell the time from the trains.

Sofia109 · 28/08/2022 22:40

Can i ask how you view a house 6 times before purchase, I am luck to get one viewing with an estate agent?

Isaidnoalready · 28/08/2022 22:43

The noise won't be an issue the rats might be my mom lives next to a railway when they clear the weeds all the rats flood into her garden she can't really have compost bins and her bird feeder is a rat proof one occasionally she gets the rat man in to lay poison down

Sidonien · 28/08/2022 22:47

I used to live near a railway line. I thought it would be ok but over time it drove me more and more crazy and I hated it. Much louder, longer, more frequent and worse than planes flying over IMO.

Over time the noise can get worse if the track isn't maintained, and usage of the line could increase or change. Personally I would not consider it.

OneLastWanderer · 28/08/2022 22:51

Best thing we ever did. Train line is directly at the bottom of our garden, in our previous house it was noisy neighbours who frequently stared down into our garden.

I would much rather have a train for a neighbour than a person, much less trouble and noise. They're here and gone in a second.

Maybe my opinion is really weird but I think people are often very snobby about it, as though it's only for people who can't afford nice houses. But in truth having a house full of students behind you is waaaaaay worse.

Pinotpleasure · 28/08/2022 22:55

Zombie thread! It began a decade ago!

FurierTransform · 29/08/2022 09:37

I rented a place once that was right by the railway line (in Hertford, to the north of Ware road)

I'd never buy one - the vibrations were the worst thing and never became normal. I found it far worse than being next to a consistently busy, medium speed road.

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