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Original poster

House near train line

53 replies

Arrowedheart · 23/03/2015 23:10

We have seen a gorgeous house but it is backing onto a local commuter line. Trains go by at least 3-4 times per hour but are not particularly noisy and only a few carriages long (no freight or mainline). I don't think it would bother me but am concerned about resale. Does anyone have any advice/experience?

OP posts:
Autumndays14 · 23/03/2015 23:13

It will bother some people, but not others. Like a main road. It's just one of those things. Plenty of people don't mind them.

nightswift · 23/03/2015 23:17

It wouldn't bother me either but check there is no freight at night. Also check if there are any access points that would be used by workers to maintain the railway. Remember this will always happen at night - however if not it should only be noisy when they are conditioning the track bed a few times a year. You want to be sure it isn't near an access point, as vans will be coming and going in the dead of night frequently if it is. That would be a deal breaker for me.

Original poster
Arrowedheart · 23/03/2015 23:33

There's definitely no freight as it's not on a network rail track, just a local shuttle type service around the area. I will check about access points though, I hadn't thought of that. We used to live on a busy mainline and it was fine noise apart from the squeaky freights. However that flat was rented so we weren't as bothered.

OP posts:
pennygirl26 · 23/03/2015 23:34

ive lived in two homes with train lines close.didnt bother me after a while didnt hear them at all.

TywysogesGymraeg · 23/03/2015 23:34

Are you buying your house to sell it, or to live in it?

If it doesn't bother you, buy it.

Viviennemary · 23/03/2015 23:36

No I wouldn't touch it. Why go for a house with such a drawback. But I suppose if it's a lot more house for your money then I can see why you are considering it. It's when you come to resell. And estate agents shake their heads and go on about trains.

Original poster
Arrowedheart · 23/03/2015 23:43

We are buying to live in longer term but have it drilled into me to think about resale. Other houses on the same side of the street have sold easily enough, but it is niggling me. It is a bit cheaper than roads further in, but still top end for the same road (though it's extended). Others in the street have been there 15+ years.

OP posts:
Devora · 24/03/2015 00:14

It wouldn't bother me.

SwedishEdith · 24/03/2015 00:19

3-4 trains per hour wouldn't bother me at all. I actually find the sound of trains quite comforting.

BitOfFun · 24/03/2015 00:20

I think it's fine- as you can see from many would-be purchasers on this thread. Just like a main road: it will put some people off, but others will realise they are getting a bargain, because you generally get more house for your money in this situation.

Autumndays14 · 24/03/2015 08:56

Where I live a lot of people live near a train/overground tube line. Really doesn't affect property values. I think because there are lots of properties near railways lines so it's not such a big deal. I guess if you lived in an area without many trains and only a few houses near the railway line then the railway would be seen as a bigger issue.

LizzieMint · 24/03/2015 09:00

Our old house backed onto a railway line, the cutting was very deep so couldn't see them, just hear them. You get so used to the occasional train, you hardly notice it. We did have a couple of nights over the years we owned it where they did noisy track maintenance overnight, but we were always warned in advance. We've sold now, and the train was not an issue.

Theas18 · 24/03/2015 09:01

Is it also near the station?

Pluses- obv can get trains easily. We don't live on the railway but just a couple of mins walk away. Will teens it's a godsend.

Minuses- parking issues are absolutely frantic further down our road.

SomewhereIBelong · 24/03/2015 09:02

Doesn't bother me at all - it is certainly not a drawback - you know if it is a busy commuter route that it will continue - there won't be houses or an industrial estate built there - but you still have a fantastic wildlife corridor right at the back of your house.

The only time it bothers me is when they are doing work on the railway - the wildlife then decides to come up out of the undergrowth - one day we had 12 hedgehogs in our garden - and a rat moved into the shed.

We got more for our money - 4 bed for the price of a 3 (2 streets away) - so long as you keep that in mind if/when you come to sell it is fine.

poorbuthappy · 24/03/2015 09:11

You will be surprised at how quickly you get used to them.
Our railway line is across the road and behind the houses and the first night we moved in it was very hot so the windows were wide open. We spent the night laying awake wondering if we'd made the right choice.
The 2nd night we slept through it. Grin

Artistic · 24/03/2015 09:11

We recently bought near a train line..network rail. It's not backing on to the line but 50m away. Initially we were worried about the magnetic fields from the line, but we did measurements & ruled this out. The noise is a non issue (I suppose we are a bit further away to cause problems). However I do feel vibrations when trains pass. It's not much, but it's there. I don't notice it every time - rather only at night or on the 2nd floor (not so much on ground & 1st). Apparently this could affect the structural stability of the building over the years. This was pointed out by our surveyor. Since ours was new build we didn't have this worry. You can have it checked though.

mousmous · 24/03/2015 09:20

we live mext to one.
the plusses are

  • great commute
  • larger garden
  • larger house for the money

triple glazing + commuter trains are pretty quiet. the freighttrains at night are a bit noisier but we are not bthered

specialsubject · 24/03/2015 09:54

I used to live in a house near a line like this. The sound of the last train as you doze off is very soothing! As noted do check what happens at night.

specialsubject · 24/03/2015 09:55

oh yes - is the station in earshot? If so the announcements may drive you nuts.

SomewhereIBelong · 24/03/2015 10:11

check what is up and down the line for a good half a mile - rail, lines can act as conductors of sound - especially if they are in a cutting...

united4ever · 24/03/2015 10:22

Trains wouldnt bother me but i suspect railway embankments are perfect habitat for vermin. Wouldnt want my garden backing onto it really.

Zinxie · 24/03/2015 10:34

I have two friends that live backing into rail lines. They got bigger gardens and better price houses, and it's a non issue. Except when we stay over at theirs, we do find the rumble noises when they pass at night friendly and soothing. I can't abide traffic noise but train noise is comforting.

Another friend lives with a bus garage at the end of her street, and it's a real eye sore and the fumes are vile.

I'd say go for it. So many houses back onto rail, and they aren't all empty or up for sale are they?!

PatriciaHolm · 24/03/2015 11:53

"Apparently this could affect the structural stability of the building over the years. This was pointed out by our surveyor."

A friend had exactly this issue- they were looking to buy a house that backed onto a local line, and the surveyor went round pointing out a number of hairline (and some not so) cracks around the property. They couldn't do the extension over garage they wanted either - they would have had to knock the garage down and start from scratch.

So go in with your eyes open and a full survey!

Original poster
Arrowedheart · 24/03/2015 12:21

Thanks everyone for your input it is good to get other perspectives. Station is about 300m away, rarely have announcements and handy for getting to work. Hopefully won't affect parking but I am going to have a drive round this afternoon to have a look. Would definitely be getting a full survey done, although a train went by when we were viewing and didn't rattle anything!

OP posts:
peteneras · 24/03/2015 15:11

Yes it would bother me like mad. I used to live in a rented room in north London in the 1980's whose back garden is literally next to a railway line. Sometimes when a train passes by, the crockery in the kitchen rattles and the kitchen vibrates. Did you say 3 or 4 trains per hour? Gosh, that'll be at least 40 trains on an average day. If that doesn't drive you cuckoo, honestly I don't know what will.