Around 20 trains an hour passing back garden - everyone saying "you'd get used to it" - would you?

[DecisionTime123]

Been to see a house where I knew there was a trainline, the garden is less than 30 foot long and about 5 foot from the back fence is line A, then another (say) 15 foot away is line B. I suspect line B is the Gatwick express but don't hold me to it. Anyway, I knew there'd be some noise but thought let's have a look. In the 15 minutes we were there at least 6 trains went through, sometimes 2 trains at once - one on each line. The "express" train line was slightly higher than the other and that was quite loud. I've checked the timetable and I think the 20 trains is a good guesstimate, and it would be going around 19 hours a day.

House had lots of other thing we really wanted, but honestly, could you get used to it? We've been looking for ages so I am feeling a bit suspect at friends saying nah that'll be fine etc. (edited to say I suspect this as everyone is fed up of hearing me going on about the house search!) Also I wonder if the noise would affect the dog, again there's no way of knowing. Any thoughts?

How big's the garden and how deep is the cutting? I lived backing onto a busy tube line for over a decade.

The noise of tubes passing was barely audible in the house but I found it very intrusive when trying to have a chat in the not terribly big garden. What I would say is that when they do work on the line they tend to do it at night and that was terribly loud: the workmen have to shout to each other, there's a lot of clanging and use of really big noisy machinery. It only happened once or twice a year but it was always for several days and genuinely absolutely terrible if your bedroom was at the back of the house.

I would get used to the noise, I live on a busy main road and bus route. If they are running diesel trains I would avoid because of the smell and pollution levels.

When O went to Uni and came back for the holidays you started to notice the trains?
I don't understand?

Typo for ‘I’ I think

That's a train every three minutes! I don't think I could live with that. Plus, the passengers will stare at you and comment on your house as they go past. (I do whenever I am in a train!)

I actually liked the sound of train’s passing when I lived next a train line. It’s rhythmic and soothing. We were same situation as you OP. Back garden was right next to the line. They used to start around 5am so if you are extremely sensitive to noise that could be an issue. I used to sometimes hear the trains starting as a gentle alarm clock, giving me an hour to snooze before the actual alarm went off.

No embankment, so the trains are on the same level as the garden, or slightly higher on the faster line.

Similar situation but not as frequent timetable. We got used to it very quickly and then the noise decreased again when the trains were switched to electric. Every few days, we’d get a freight train and we’d jump out of our skin because of the change in the sound and we’d become so accustomed to the regular trains, we didn’t hear them at all. If you love the house, I’d go for it.

Same - I'm on the flight path in borough of Richmond and don't notice them much. Do hear the helicopters! I grew up in a house with a train line at the bottom of the garden and really wasn't bothered at all.

You get used to the rushing noise but do stand there when they go through for a while to check that they don't have to apply the brakes and screech or sound their horns just there.
Also if you have an outdoor cat, be aware they they might well go over onto the track and be killed.

Hi, from what I’ve read of the PP’s replies to your OP, the majority are saying they got used to it.

If that also can be true for you, then all well and good from that point of view.

what might worry me more is the value of your home, should you want to move elsewhere in future.
Would your house be fetching a far lower selling price than a similar house that’s not o close to the trains?
I suppose I’m asking if you’d be happy to take that hit?

if you do decide to go for it, I hope it’s all you dreamed of and enjoy many happy years there.

Thank you @CloseEncountersOfTheLoveKind - there's been a lot of demand for viewings so I'm not worried about resale due to trains.

I used to live very close to a motorway, noise was fine I definitely got used to it, and planes have never bothered me but those noises seem more "distant". But yeah, if there was a vote on this is does seem the vote would be YWGUTI (you will get used to it)!

I live with that exact line behind me. I promise within 3 days you'll be saying what trains?!

You simply zone it out, I promise it is fine. My house is currently on the market and we have people that want to be close to the station, we're about 4 mins front door to platform, but then say they dont want to hear the trains!! Err, right OK...... 🙄

Rather that than a busy road outside my front door. I've lived in my house just over 20 years if the noise was awful I wouldn't have lived here this long.

Only time I ever found it a nuisance was when there were track repairs or when they were tunnelling for the Eurostar.

I live about 50m from, and on the same level as, a Victorian rail viaduct. Unless it’s a very heavy freight train I don’t even notice the trains. I love seeing them though if I happen to glance out. This is a very busy line into London.

It becomes white noise.

We live between a railway line and a busy road, the road is much worse. The train line doesn't constantly belch exhaust fumes at the house.

It depends. If the line is below your garden/house level, then fine but if it’s above, you’ll notice the noise a lot more.

My friend lived in an identical modern semi house across a busy main road from my house when I was a student and her house was set back from the road and about 6 feet below the road level and my house was the same distance from the road but about 6 feet above the road. OMG, it was so much noisier in her house!

Also, would it bother you to hear that noise when you’re outside in the garden in the summer?

Some people barely register noise but I can’t even stand noisy pubs and have to leave, so it wouldn’t work for me.

I’ve lived not backing on, but with another small garden in between. I used to actually like the train noise, maybe I’m odd. It’s quite a comforting sound to me

I rented for a short time between moves. From that experience, I would never buy near a rail line. Apart from the usual traffic there were regular overnight maintenance. One of which was very loud noise, BUMP, loud noise BUMP, repeat for an hour or so. Seems they were straightening the tracks. And then there was the train transporting rotten meat in what I believe were open carriages. OMG, the smell stayed for hours.

Add in rats etc that live along areas like that….

I think I would get used to it yes, I stayed in a holiday cottage for a week once with was near a busy train line - it was very strange for a couple of days but then got used to it and quite enjoyed seeing the trains speeding past

6 ft? Were you sleeping on the platform??

Not at my back fence but the railway line runs along the back of my cul de sac 3 houses along from me. I can only hear the trains if I concentrate on them. There’s 10 per hour.

I moved here 6 months ago and the first time my daughter and family came to stay the weekend it quickly became apparent their labrador was terrified of the train sound. Her only previous fear was of thunder and she seems to associate the rumble of the trains with distant rumbling thunder.

The poor thing was a quivering wreck and they now have to come without her when they visit as it’s so distressing for her. She wouldn’t even go out in the garden for a wee and they had to drive her a couple of miles away to walk her out of earshot of the train line 😞

As a PP has said, if there’s any chance you’d ever get a cat, don’t. But apart from this, the only negative I’ve heard from friends who live in similar locations is night time track work. They seem to become immune to the regular noise very quickly. For the dog - unlikely to be a problem, but it may be worth taking him along to a viewing just to check he doesn’t freak??

My aunt used to live very close to a major airport. When we visited I struggled to sleep as there were planes going over 24/7 but she was completely oblivious to the noise. So I think you can become used to almost anything. We live in a rural place that I think is very quiet but when my sister comes she'll say she's been woken up by the animals in the neighbouring farm or by birdsong. I think it's unfamiliarity that causes disturbance. Personally I wouldn't choose a house next to a busy railway line if I didn't have to, but if the house was perfect in every other way and there wasn't anything I could find elsewhere then I'd probably go for it and hope I got used to the noise.