Tube passengers face dangerous noise on Victoria, Northern and Jubilee lines
707 complaints recorded over three years and £9 million earmarked for rail‑grinding to curb track noise, Transport for London says.
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Transport for London and the mayor’s office have confirmed that sound levels inside carriages on the Victoria, Northern and Jubilee lines regularly exceed 100 decibels, a level comparable to a chainsaw. Measurements taken on the Northern line recorded a maximum of 104 decibels, while the Victoria and Jubilee lines reached 102 decibels. The Hammersmith and City line, which runs above ground, recorded a maximum average of 81 decibels.
Complaint record and funding response
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Over the past three years the network received 707 noise complaints, according to BBC London, with more than 600 relating to carriage noise and about 70 concerning station environments. In response, Mayor Sadiq Khan announced a £9 million allocation for rail‑grinding, a process intended to smooth corrugated tracks that generate the loud screeching.
Passengers should not have to put up with excessive noise.
Elly Baker, Labour transport spokesperson, London Assembly
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Questions this report answers
+How loud are the noise levels on the affected Tube lines?
Measurements show that the Northern line can reach 104 decibels, while the Victoria and Jubilee lines can climb to 102 decibels. All three exceed the 100‑decibel mark, which is louder than a typical chainsaw.
+How many noise complaints have been logged and where did they come from?
TfL and the mayor’s office recorded 707 complaints over the last three years. More than 600 of those complaints concerned noise inside train carriages, and around 70 were about noise at stations, as reported by BBC London.
+What funding has been promised to address the noise problem?
Mayor Sadiq Khan has earmarked £9 million for rail‑grinding work. The investment is aimed at smoothing corrugated tracks, which are identified as a primary source of the high noise levels on the affected lines.
+Are there any legal limits on noise exposure for Tube passengers?
There are currently no statutory limits governing the amount of noise passengers may be exposed to while travelling on the Underground. The lack of a legal ceiling means the issue is addressed through operational measures rather than regulation.
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