Should we consider buying houses very very close to Train Tracks?

[BroglieBoy]

Hi All,

Need some guidance.

I came across this lovely property
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/133629803#/?channel=RES_BUY on Rightmove and noticed that it is very close to the train tracks.

All Trains running through Wokingham train would pass through this track.
I wouldn't say it is a very busy train track but reasonably busy with trains running every 30 mins.

Is it okay to consider such properties or better to give it a pass as it is too close to the tracks?

1. Will it be too noisy?
2. Will the train movements cause vibrations and therefore issues for the properties such as cracks?
3. Future sellability for such properties?

What are your thoughts?

Personally I love seeing trains go by and I find the noise soothing, but I might be in a minority.

No. That's far, far too close and there is absolutely no foliage between the houses and the line. It's a massive re-sale liability.

I would only buy that if the line was permanently out of service.

Wouldn’t bother me. The only thing that I missed when we got double glazing in our house was that I couldn’t hear the trains.

I've considered houses 50m away, 10 metres < can go do one.

I love the sound of trains too and it wouldn't bother me at all.

It does seem to be perceived wisdom that people don't like houses near train tracks though.

I lived in a house with trains that went past the end of the garden, plus planes flying low overhead because we were near the airport, and honestly you just stop noticing.

I have no problem with train tracks, but that's also got a school at the end of the garden and a traffic light in front of it.

Forgot to mention you can see the train tracks in the second photo. Just next to the fence.

An ex of mine lived very close to the central line. After a short period I barely noticed the tube trains.

we back onto a tube station so trains every 2 mins during peak, 10/15 off peak. Barely even notice it any more. We notice if they aren’t running as it’s odd. My parents visit from their West Country village and aren’t disturbed by the noise either.

We used to live on a house that backed onto railway lines and I loved it, I found the sound of the trains going past so comforting and soothing, especially at night.

Likewise.

Sit nearby and see how busy the road is and what the road AND the railway noise is like. That might help

I guess School should be fine. Does that also impact the price of a property? Just curious to know.

If the school’s close by the noise can be unbearable at break times and in some areas there can be parking issues.

Did you look at the very narrow bridge right next to the front drive? Poor visibility every time you try to leave the drive, immediate life in hands with oblivious speeding drivers coming through if you want to turn left (as you're past the stop line) and probably a few late night 'lights don't apply to me' incidents. Plus people using your garden to trespass on the bridge/track or vice versa, as there's nothing stopping them like a fence or gate.

Going by the huge slope down on the driveway, they've taken the photos with a drone to try and make the drive look ten times larger than in reality as well.

Vibration from trains doesn't usually cause structural damage. The trains are not above the level of the house and the back garden is screened by trees. You have solid fences and it's only the side of the house facing the railway. Most of South London is way more overlooked.
We have a tram line at the end of our garden, 15 per hour at peak times, I can go several days without noticing one pass.

Basically I would not be concerned in this case.

That would be fine with me. There’s a train track across the road from me - trains every 10-15 mins, and I don’t notice them or hear them. A school nearby is fine too.

Depends on your noise tolerance I think. I wouldn’t live on a busy road because of noise so I’d probably not like being near a train track but I’m more sensitive to noise than most I think as I grew up somewhere very quiet.

Also more long term but if trains get electrified then it’ll be even quieter than it is now.

I’d love to live near a railway line.

Engineering work can be noisy and will always be overnight, though. It’s infrequent but very disruptive when it’s happening.

I lived in an apartment as a student as close to this. Didn't notice it after half a day.

Grew up under a flight path to Heathrow. Never noticed 😂

The house is lovely. Lucky you.

I think the traffic would be more of a problem than the trains. I'd check what it's like on school runs.

Yes, it will impact on the future 'sellability'. Lots of people won't consider it. Lots of others might, but only if it were a LOT cheaper than other similar houses in the town.
I don't know what pricing is like in Wokingham, but I presume this is the case with the current pricing ? The house is lovely, but I presume if that house were 2/3 of a mile away from the station then it would cost a lot more ?

Now, we bought a house with a train track at the bottom of the garden because it meant we got a lot more house for the money, and it has suited us and our needs, but the train track is nowhere as near as close as that is, and doesn't run along the side of the whole property.

I wouldn't buy that house.

would not bother me at all.

Regular trains - fine
Freight trains or engineering works are VERY noisy and occasionally do pass through passenger lines so just be aware of that. It's terrible waking up to that along with all the lights.

I’m in that minority too-grew up 20yards from Scotlands east coast main line-never an issue, and houses in the street get premium prices