Live near a railway line?

[MrsWhirly]

Hi all,

We’ve seen a nice property we like, however a railway line runs along the back - basically where gardens end.

The house is a short walk from the station, which is nice but not sure how much it would bother me. Any experienced would be appreciated. Thank you.

Make sure you consider how frequently the line is used. There's a big difference between 4 trains an hour and one every 4 minutes!

Things I would consider- How often do the trains run? Does the train stop at the station and people can see into your garden whilst stationary? Can you hear it from inside the house? And what time do the trains stop running (if you can hear it inside)?

My parents live with a rail line at the back of the garden but it’s high up, once every 15 minutes and you can’t see their garden from the train unless you’re specifically looking out for it. When in the house you can’t hear it at all.

Can you view it when the train is passing?

I've lived for many years on a very busy road. You do get used to the noise. But I'm in the process of moving to somewhere quieter. When we were looking at houses, I read that Japanese knotweed can be more prevalent by railway lines as the trains spread it. Also be aware that engineering works can take place in the middle of the night on train tracks.

Would you want pets? Would the train line be a hazard for wandering cats?

I lived near a railway as a child and now live near a railway. I much prefer the noise of trains to the roar of a busy road. I rarely hear the train noise but it depends on frequency of trains whether they idle on the line.
You need to go in the day when there's more chance of hearing trains and ask the vendors. Walk around the area too

Hi - thanks!

It’s a busy line I would imagine, given it’s the one I will be using to commute into central London everyday.

A train line runs behind my property. Doesn't bother me at all. Services at least four times an hour too. Only issue is lack of sunlight due to bank between house and train.

Definitely check how often trains go by - goods trains make our house shake - but there only 3 or so a week. Nothing runs from about midnight until 5am. Only been disturbed by engineering work once in 17 years, despite them always putting cards through the door saying there will be. There will be the odd Sunday where we'll realise in the afternoon that it's a bit quiet and they must be doing rail replacement. The noise includes steam trains twice a week, and drivers honking at people waving from a bridge nearby. Personally I find car noise and shoutiing drunks are more disturbing. The cat stays well away.

As someone who lives very close to a busy train line, I'd say you get used to it really quickly. I genuinely don't even notice them anymore.

We lived next to a train line and it didn't take long to stop hearing them (and near the airport for that matter)

Sounds like an ideal spot

We moved to a very silent area, that took longer to get used too!

I've got 2 friends who live with the mainline running at the back of their garden. You get used to the noise v quickly and in terms of safety and noise I'd prefer a railing (appropriately fenced and shielded) to a busy road any day!

We used to live very close to the tube. Overground bit. Within a few weeks didn't notice the tube was even there.

We have a line behind the houses over the road from us. The first couple of nights we lived here it did wake us up in the night. Been here nearly 5 years and we don’t hear them when we’re awake now, you get used to it. We do only have 4 an hour though. They’re in the process of electrifying the line here though, it’s been ongoing for the last couple of years and I think it will be done early next year. They do all work at night which has kept us awake at times.

We're on our 3rd home by a railway line although this is a small branch line with 3 trains per hour.

Previously we lived next to the mainlines with multiple trains per hour and the long slow goods trains at night. As pp have said, it's amazing how quickly you tune it out and the only time we ever noticed was our in the garden chatting and we'd just pause for the brief time it took to pass.

Thanks all - I have the opportunity to travel on the line so can have a better look.

It’s half a mile from the station which is the last station on the line.

My grandparents lived near a train line when I was growing up. That particular one had regular freight trains for some reason.
We didn't notice the noise during the day, and I found it quite pleasant at night!

I live by one and I hardly ever notice the noise now we get around 6 trains an hour I think. I only ever hear it when the industrial national rail ones come through you'll be okay

Sounds similar to us - busy line is at the end of the garden, with the station not far away. Doesn't bother me at all, as others have said, you really quickly get used to the noise and I find it much less intrusive than road noise. All dc have napped in the garden and never been woken (except by unusually loud horns)
We have some trees/tall bushes which partly obscure the view but benefits are that we don't look directly up someone else's garden and into their house.
The benefits of being close to a mainline station are big for me.

Me too WLMum need to be near the station to get to and from central London, plus house is near great schools.

Those of you living near a line at the moment, how long is your garden?

This one is 56ft.

Same as others - I lived near a busy train line in front of the house but behind a wall and it was lower down than street level. Didn’t notice any sound after the first week and you couldn’t hear it inside at all

I live about that distance from a train line and it’s hugely preferable to road noise. You do tune it out, but the low rumble in the late night/early morning is oddly comforting. We all like to see the trains go past when we catch a glimpse and when there are occasional “specials” with steam trains or vintage locos it’s a real treat!

What you’ve described so far wouldn’t bother me. I’d want to see how overlooked we were from the train though.
Also, it would put some people off, so bear in mind if you think you may want to move on again. If it feels like it might be your forever home, then probably less of a concern?

Used to have a railway line at the back of my old garden, near a station. Frequent trains, both slow and fast, passenger and freight. It was not a problem at all, in fact I quite liked it.

Things to consider:

• If you have pets or DC, ensure there are no gaps in the fencing, that it is fully secure, and that it is high enough to prevent any escapees.

• Engineering work can be very noisy. Network Rail normally give plenty of notice of works.

• Check where your boundaries and that of Network Rail are

• General noise, e.g. is it near a 'Whistle' (W) board?

• Can anyone see in if on a stationery train?

Hope this helps a bit, if I think of anything else I'll post again.