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Original poster

House next to railway track

48 replies

stevalnamechanger · 09/09/2022 14:40

What are the pros and cons

Found the dream house but it's next to a railway line .. 😩😩🙁🙁

Any thoughts ?!

OP posts:
CoffeeWithCheese · 09/09/2022 20:46

Think you tend to get used to it - DH did when he was living next to one. Only time I've found trains to be intrusive was student houses in the viaduct area of Durham where if you had your cuppa on the table you had to hang onto it because of how bonkersly close to the lines they are.

We're really near the M1 and the only time I noticed it was during lockdown - when the sound wasn't present in the background and things just felt "wrong"

Seasidemumma77 · 09/09/2022 20:55

I've got a road and a tree lined embankment between house and railway line. The timetabled trains are fine for us, but we do notice faster out of service trains (not often) and the occasional freight train.

Been in house 15yrs, in that time we have had to endure overnight line repairs/upgrades a handful of times. We always get notified in advance, and now the dc will stay at friends houses on those nights and I'll sleep in a room at the back of the house.

Redqueenheart · 09/09/2022 21:07

Don't do it (buy a property next to a railway line).

My London flat has a railway line at the back of our building.

Although my flat is on the other side I can still feel some of the vibrations and hear the noise.

Also the train companies seem to be constantly doing engineering works/track maintenance and they can happen at night as well and cause more noise.

Not to mention that when they are doing works during the day the train drivers will use the train's horns to warn the railway workers and the sound is rather disruptive.

I have got used to it to some degree but I must say I will never buy near a train line again...

NewHouseNewMe · 09/09/2022 22:41

I did but I wouldn’t do it again.
Although the trains were infrequent and no problem at all, the nightly freight trains (only about 2?) caused so much noise and vibrations that I woke most nights for years. Any maintenance was horrendous- bright lights, banging steel etc. All at weekends or at night.

Jules912 · 09/09/2022 22:47

I live across the road from one ( so not directly onto) and honestly can only hear the trains with the windows open or in the garden. Even then I find it gets lost in the general hubbub, only thing that really bothers me us(rare) overnight maintenance.
In our case this was the trade off for being less than 5 minutes from the station.

JasmineIndigo · 09/09/2022 23:28

It really depends OP, living next to a busy intercity line or on a busy urban route would probably not be great but you'd get used to it. We have a branch line at the end of our garden, there are 2-3 trains per hour and they are no bother at all. We don't get freight trains, and if there is work on the line it doesn't disturb us at all.

Iwantcollarbones · 10/09/2022 00:05

I lived in a house where a London station was actually at the end of the garden so the majority of the trains were stopping. It wasn’t too bad actually. I lived near London city airport previously and we would have to stop talking in the garden when a plane went over so I supposed I was used to noise. The only time I really heard the trains was when the windows were open (the old fashioned sash windows seemed to insulate the noise amazingly), when the very occasional steam train passed or when they were doing maintenance on the line (although, as a previous poster said, they do give good notice).

I think it would depend on if you’re particularly sensitive to noise and how well you sleep.

Original poster
stevalnamechanger · 10/09/2022 01:05

So...

  • It is suburb / inner city zone 3 I think London line 10 mins walk to the station
  • The house directly backs onto the track
  • The train track is high, up on an embankment which means the train is visible from the back bedroom window (not the main bedroom)
  • Checking on the times the trains are every 5 mins plus a couple of freight at night
  • The property is listed at 600k .... what concerns me is that one across the road NOT backing onto the track, larger sq ft and higher spec sold for 660k in Jan ... given that things are visibly dropping in London currently I think it feels overpriced somewhat however agent has stated the seller has no movement. Having viewed 30+ properties some agents have given clear indication of sellers willing to drop prices
  • I observed and filmed one passing from inside the house and I personally did not find it too disturbing.

There is nothing on the market in the area for the same price or even 50 k higher at the same standard :( I personally think I could deal with the noise.

However my concern is the resale as we are likely to move in 5-7 years.

OP posts:
Woopzies · 10/09/2022 04:31

If you know you're going to move in 5-7 years, don't do it. You can't guarantee that the frequency of rail services passing by will be equally as tolerable then as they are now - you could get lumbered when trying to make a sale and onward purchase.

Steer well clear!

ilovesouthlondon · 10/09/2022 07:01

You stop hearing it after a while. If you like the house I'd go for it.

amylou8 · 10/09/2022 07:03

Mine backs onto the mainline between Portsmouth and London, so a busy bit of track. I don't notice it ever.

BarrelOfOtters · 10/09/2022 07:05

Lived near a mainline train station for years growing up….you get used to it and I quite liked the noise at night.

LozzaChops101 · 10/09/2022 07:21

I live alongside the Portsmouth-London line, so it’s fairly busy. I could climb over the fence about 10 feet from my back door, but it’s quite a deep cutting so not too loud really. I’m also only about 300m up from the station so 50% of the trains are slowing down to stop or just starting up to leave, that might be something to consider. If you’re in the middle of a long fast stretch it could well be quite loud.

Negatives -

  • If doors and windows are open you might miss a key bit of your audio book when a train passes(!)
  • Occasional overnight works, but this is rare and brief!
  • Commuters filling up the local street parking if near station. And wheely suitcases trundling past at the crack of sparrow. Actually these are noisier than the trains.

Positives -

  • Wildlife! Overgrown cutting means we get a lot of garden birds, foxes, birds of prey, and I can reach as many blackberries as I could ever want over the fence!
  • Steam trains! (Occasionally!)
  • I can read the departure board for the London-bound train if I stand on a tree stump and use a zoom lens. Great for friends heading back to London 😁

I actually really like being near the train line. It’s sort of a comforting constant presence. I do think proximity to a station, how many lines, what sort of trains, how deep the cutting is etc are all things to consider though. I wouldn’t want to live along the District Line or any of the major terminals!

BloodyCamping · 10/09/2022 07:31

It depends how busy and if they run through the night.

my friend lives next to a train line and she said she didn’t notice the trains after a while. She has double glazing so it’s naturally quieter in the house. She lives in a mixed area and it means burglars don’t access her rear garden.

BloodyCamping · 10/09/2022 07:33

the strip of land is wide with lots of trees kept by the train company.

Lemonlemon88 · 10/09/2022 07:34

We lived just above a train line and lived a ten minute walk from a train line. We heard nothing when we lived above it and noticed it when we had the distance between us. You probably need to sit on the street when a train is going through to understand the noise.

Dinosauraddict · 10/09/2022 07:37

I rented a house backing on to a train line about 10 years ago, busy track but not London busy and certainly not a train every 5 mins. I definitely got used to the noise but the house sometimes shook and that would put me off buying one in the same position. If it was your forever home then I'd say do it, but I would be very wary re resale.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 10/09/2022 07:37

Depends totally.
I'd take a trainline over a busy rd.
We currently live next to a station. 2/3 trains an hour, all stoppers. Never notice it unless the send the odd special through.

BloodyCamping · 10/09/2022 07:38

If you like it make a very very cheeky offer on what you think it’s worth. Research sold prices on your side of the road versus the general area.

UseOfWeapons · 10/09/2022 07:40

Wouldn’t bother me and I like a quiet life. Grew up close to the mainline Intercity to London, and the sound of trains passing in the night made me feel safe. I now live close to the same train line, and it still gives me a comfy feeling. Have lived on a fast road, you stop hearing it most of the time, maybe notice it more at peak hours.
Horses for courses.

LozzaChops101 · 10/09/2022 08:47

Just seen your post with more info - sounds a bit busy, and the high track would put me off a bit!

Original poster
stevalnamechanger · 10/09/2022 09:43

I think the thing for me is mainly that the train
Is up on the embankment and is so visible !

The agent is insisting the house next door just sold with their agency for 770 ( it's extended) but hard to know what to believe as it isn't on land registry .

So many great points thanks everyone food for thought

OP posts:
NOTANUM · 10/09/2022 11:15

I would be wary.. Properties that have a downside take the hit in a downturn but are fine to sell in a boom. How long will you be there?

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