Transport for London (TfL) will begin work on the underground this summer, to reduce the noise of the noisiest tube line.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I know that Tube noise remains a concern for many Londoners. I do take this matter very seriously and it remains a priority for TfL to continue to monitor noise levels closely.
“They’ll put in place practical interventions wherever possible, but until a sustainable funding settlement for TfL is provided by the Government, TfL’s ability to carry out the long-term and expensive interventions needed to tackle Tube noise is limited.”
Londoners may have differing opinions on the noisiest tube line–is it the rumbling of the Central line beneath your feet? Or the Jubilee line’s screeching making it impossible to hold a conversation for more than a minute?
But one tube line came out on top as the noisiest in March, when it was revealed how many noise complaints each of the tube lines had received.
So which is the noisiest tube line in London?
London’s five noisiest tube lines
- Northern line
- Victoria line
- District line
- Jubilee line
- Metropolitan line
The Northern line received 282 complaints–making it the most complained about tube line in terms of noise and vibrations–while the Victoria line was second, having been complained about 252 times.
The District line received 138 complaints, while the Jubilee line received 108. The Metropolitan line was the fifth noisiest, with 28 complaints.
But TfL will focus its efforts on the Northern Line this summer. Mayor Sadiq Khan has said that work will begin to replace track fastenings on the northbound and southbound stretches of the Northern line between Camden Town and Euston.
TfL explained the cause of noisy tube journey, and said: “Noise coming from our tracks can be from normal wear and tear, track faults or misaligned joints. We regularly inspect our track to ensure it is safe and reliable.
“New building work across the city can change the way that ground-borne noise and vibration is heard within properties. The vibration caused when metal train wheels roll over metal tracks is carried through the tunnel and the ground around it to nearby buildings. The walls and floors of these buildings can amplify the noise.”
