House next to train line

[Melaniais]

Hello, I put an offer on a house where train line runs behind its garden. I mean there is a few meters gap, plus train track is low, you can’t see trains from the garden. The track is barely used atm, only freight. Few trains per day at best. But I just saw on news that London mayor and affected boroughs try to restate it for passages use in the future, this will be part of West London Orbital. Given behest and money it’s probably good few years from now, if ever… but of plans come into force will it affect negatively property value ? Or positively, not far from the property they will open a new station. My offer was rejected, but I have indication for real estate agent how much more I shall offer to get the house. It will be a financial stretch but possible. Lovely house on a nice street, possibly one of last chances before we get priced out of area/London. should I put plans for opening train line as risk to property value and negotiate the price even lower from my offer? Or abandon the plans as too risk involved with train line development. Any views?

Don’t do it! Noise is the worst. And trains. Just awful. Lived next to a train like one w and hated it

If you do go ahead and buy but then decide you don't like it you could struggle to sell on.....

Even if there are nit many trains, there might be some late at night or early in the morning.

Though you will get used to them.

Being within walking of a potentially good commuter line a few streets away is 1 thing, having the line go along the back of your garden is a very different thing! Don't underestimate the noise! In the daytime it might not be so noticeable, but at night or sitting in the garden on quiet weekend its very different. Yes, you get used to the noise but resale can be tricky too. I'd need to check but I'd also be concerned about potential pollution from it. Anything else nearby which doesn't have the track next to the garden?

DB lives in a house which backs onto the tracks, close to a mainline station. They don’t notice the noise, and it means they are not overlooked.

Trang line at back of my house.never been an issue with noise but it’s a local line not a fast intercity.

Please don't. Friend has been trying to sell her property for 3 years next to a train line. Beautiful house but the location literally puts people off

I'd go for it! If the railway line's not too near and not visible, the noise won't be intrusive. In fact it could be quite pleasant. And if they put a station in nearby, then yes it could increase house values not reduce them.

In London loads of houses are near tubes & train lines & I don't think it makes much difference to prices as proximity to a station is as a plus. If it's below your garden that will disguise some of the noise, are you close to the station?

If the line is below your garden then there shouldn't be too much noise and the new station could make it more appealing for a resale in the future - plus more convenient for you?

Thank you to all for the feedback! Property is currently circa. 0.4 miles from zone 3 tube station. If they go ahead with overground & start using track behind the garden then we would have 0.3 miles to another existing station that will expand to accommodate overground trains. Noise, pollution and problems with potential reselling taken into account. Again it would be financial stretch so would prefer to have peace of mind that we have taken a good decision.

When you say it’s your last chance before being priced out, do remember this is a falling market. You may find that as the months pass you will get more rather than less for your money but certainly this is not a time where if you blink you will miss the chance to get on the ladder - quite the opposite I would say so dont put yourself under pressure.

I lived near a station twice, got used to it

We lived in London (zone 2) with train line right behind the house. We had a reasonably large back garden between the house and the train tracks. Never thought of it as a problem at all, any noise was barely noticeable, and to be honest I’d rather have been looking at train tracks than other houses.

I actually think the property you’re describing would possibly increase in value due to better public transport nearby.

My sister also owned a house in a different city with train tracks running right alongside the house, so a little noisier because much closer, but again, probably better to have than than neighbours!

Our home backs on to train tracks, probably minimum of 8 an hour, close to the station. Sometimes I think the trains are not running as not heard them, the biggest noise is from the school children getting on the train. I love backing on to tracks - we are not overlooked at all. The odd occasion we might even get a steam train go past.

I grew up in a house like this - it was only a freight line when we moved in and then started to have passenger trains too. It really doesn’t bother me, even now I’ve been away for 20 years i can still sleep in the back bedroom with no issues. That said, I’ve never lived anywhere other than in a cul-de-sac so I can hear road noise from miles around and can’t deal with any sort of road traffic noise!

We lived close to a railway line. The freight trains used to rattle the coffee cups across the table.
Line maintenance done through the night was horrendous. Sounded like the chainsaws were actually under the bedroom window. And a gritty residue on the cars destroyed the paintwork.
Never again.

I lived near trains all my life and at one stage lived metres away from the line. It woke me the first night and after that I didn’t notice it. I wouldn’t hesitate.

My friend has a train at the bottom of her London garden (about 50ft long). You can see the train and I think there’s one or two an hour. It doesn’t really affect house prices (compared to the houses opposite side of the street with no train) as it’s a desirable neighbourhood. So is the house worth it to you?

Currently live in a house with a train line. London suburb, about eight trains an hour. Five minutes walk from the station. Most local line trains are not actually that noisy now. If you have double or triple glazing, I doubt you'll hear much at all. The only thing we hear is the occassional freight trains that whistle.

Five year old sleeps in the back bedroom, noise never been an issue, and actually being able to sit on the window sill and watch trains go by in the rain was quite lovely.

Even sitting outside in the garden - not a huge garden - maybe 10m or so - has never been disruptive. As others have said, there is no discernible difference in house price compared to houses on the opposite side of the street, and as a buyer, I would 100% choose a house near transport links that backed onto a train line than a house with rubbish transport links but no train noise.

I'd buy it. It means you are not overlooked and trains, unlike main road traffic, are not a constant. I have a friend who backs onto a main line (but not so close as yours sounds) and he says they don't notice the trains now.

Branch line at the bottom of the garden. Long garden, not overlooked. They won't build flats on it.

Noise is only noticeable on the rare occasions they are working in the tracks, or if a train has to be stopped. The trains are small and quite slow and don't run all night.

If it means a new computer station in walking distance that will instantly add value.
The noise is a love it or hate it thing. Many people I know find it soothing and reassuring.
you are also guaranteed privacy as it won't be built on and as you say it's low so people aren't looking in.

if you love the house, somebody after you will too, and may get the extra benefit of the transport links.

We’re London Z2 and a trainline sits at the bottom of our garden (albeit lower as we’re on a hill). Maybe it’s a London thing but it didn’t impact our decision to buy at all, nor has it impacted recent sales on the road which have been very quick and for very good prices.

I find it comforting. We have a long garden
also it makes the house feel secure