Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

...at the end of the back garden to be exact.

The house we looked at on Saturday was perfect apart from this (big advantage being a walk to the station - I work in Sydney CBD).

Commuter trains aren't such a big deal, it's the miles-long freight trains late at night or early morning that I guess might be a problem.

If anyone's lived somewhere like this before would you say "never again", or did you get used to it?

Decisions decisions. Of course, I may be too late already and I may regret it when I see the "sold" sigh. Ho hum.

any thoughts?

thanks,

big.

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

We rent next to a train line now, has only been 2 weeks so far so too early to see if we get used to the bloody racket when the freight trains go by, hooting their horn for good measure!

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

Which station is it? I didn't think many freight trains use the suburban network. There's a special freight line that runs from Botany container terminal out to somewhere but Botany doesn't have a normal suburban station.

I guess if you back onto Central, Redfern :ohmy: or even Strathfield or Parramatta you might have a problem with a busy line but most stations wouldn't suffer from freight trains.

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

Nope, other end - on the North Shore line I've seen plenty of freight/container trains between Berowra and Hornsby. It was a house along this stretch. We were checking out the the back garden when an extremely long freight train went past heading towards Hornsby, where it either stopped or went down the main line towards Central via Epping. It was up on a high bank too. A bit off-putting really, which was a shame. There again, it would have been outside our price range otherwise, probably.

big.

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

You'd soon get used to it. My Brother's house is about 20 metres from the Bed Pan line in Herts. They didn't notice anything after a few months and their daughter's bedroom is at eye level to it.

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

We moved into an apartment years ago without really taking note of the train line at the bottom of the (very small) garden. The first night we slept there our furniture hadn't arrived so when a train went past the empty flat the whole place echoed and the old sash windows shook - we were horrified. After a couple of weeks (and once it was furnished) we didn't really notice it anymore, when we did it was quite soothing in a strange way! Unless trains are whizzing by every few minutes it might be worth accepting that that's why you can afford it and go for it.

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

I've got one about 30 foot away from my back garden (well I say garden but it's only 10 foot to the fence :D ), can honestly say I've never noticed the noise at all. Can hear a few go past but only if the doors are open and there's no TV or anything on.

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

Isn't it funny how your hearing filters things after a while. I used to live nr a busy road, when we moved to this rented last year the first couple of nights I found it too quiet to sleep :huh:

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

Look at it this way.

If you are the vendor, how will buyers view the property (just as you are now)?

No matter how much you do the house up, it will always be undervalued because of the train line.

WW

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

We lived in a house for a year were the train line was about 18ft from our house, it wasnt a problem for us and after a short time you dont really notice them, but like you say the frieght trains tend to be the ones you notice they used to make the house shake, the house was over 30 years old and was still standing:lol: . Get yourself a time table and see exactly how many trains will be going past in a day and how often, if you work during the day it shouldnt be a problem.

Good luck anyways.
Clairex

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

We had the Brisbane - Cleveland line running past our garden at the place we stayed at for the first 5 or 6 weeks. We got used to the noise after a few days to be honest.

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

A friend of mine bought close to a train line in Kent thinking that he'd get used to the noise, and he did for a while (around 6 months) ... until Network SouthEast (or whoever it was mis-managing the line at the time) changed their signalling protocols and the trains started to use their horns right outside his back garden.

He tried to get them to change but with predictable results ... I guess they were there first ...

Me? I can see getting used to it in time but I wouldn't take the chance of unforeseen changes, personally.

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

We have lived 10 metres from a train line for the past 7 years and to be honest we don't even notice it anymore. The first week or so we did. Even sat in the garden on rare occassions its hardly noticable.

Funny thing is it does sometimes keep our visitors awake the first night or 2 and then they eventually get used to it.

We do have freight trains go past and its the main line between Edinburgh and Glasgow so can be busy.

Good Luck with whatever you decide.

Andreaxx

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

When I was a kid, my parent's house was about 500 metres from a shunting yard. Not only did I get used to it, but I found the noise of the carriages being shunted about at night really soothing. To this day, the sound takes me right back to my childhood. Over here, my big sister lives close to a train line, which has long freight trains rattling up and down it and the noise hasn't woken any of us up when we've stayed there. I suppose the only real question is the impact the train line has on the viability of the house when you come to sell it on yourself.

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

I live about 100 metres from a train line at the moment, and I really like it.
The house doesn't have doubleglazing, so you can hear it, but like others have said I actually like the sound of trains! Plus it has never woken me up - I suppose I don't find it alarming so my unconscious brain just filters it out and I sleep on.
In terms of buying a house there, I would say definitely check the timetable to see exactly what you are taking on, and also make sure that the price reflects the locality, because when you come to sell you can be sure that prospective buyers will try to bargain you down because of it.
Have a look at similar houses that are 2 min away from the station but not next to the tracks and see what they are going for - you might be getting yourself an absolute bargain!

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

We live on a main road, with the London Underground Central Line shunting yards and the Chiltern Line Birmingham - London at our rear, about 500m away, both on an embankment, so at top-story level.

The all night shunting and the trains don't disturb me, but the road does.

However IMO the main think to consider is resale value.

:beer:

Buzzy

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

Hi, my bedroom in my parents house was approx. 10 metres from the train track when I was a teenager (in the UK), and apart from the first night or two after we moved (my Dad was a train nut! :eek: ) I can honestly say I slept really really well - you definitely get used to it - I can remember the house vibrating during the day sometimes but generally you didn't even notice a train going by (we had high speed trains as we were on a main line) - sad that I was I can even remember waving to the passengers sometimes on the slower trains :o Good luck with what you decide

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

Thanks everyone.

This is one of those places that come up rarely - considering there's no work to be done, very well presented, and it's near the train (!), schools and shops. Thing is, even the asking price is at the extreme upper end of our budget, but I suppose there's no harm in making an offer, as long as it's not taking the piss.

As far as resale is concerned, it's not really a concern, as it's the kind of place we'd be happy to stay in a long time, provided there were no major structural problems or horrendous neighbours. I did have a word with the agent and he spoke to the vendors and they said they get on well with the neighbours on each side, so though I'd take what any real estate agent acting on behalf of the vendors would say with a pinch of salt, he did give the impression of being one of the better ones.

Hope it's not gone already,

(I'm not basing my decision purely on people's replies here, but I guess I wanted reassurance - thanks).;)

Cheers,

Big.

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

We live 100 metres from a 4 lane highway, 500 metres from a railway line and 3k's from one of the busiest airports in Australia (Jandakot).

We never hear a thing after the third bottle of wine.

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

Lived about 100 yards from a train track in Livermore CA, now am 4 doors from an interstate in VA with no sound wall.........its all very nice.

The constant hum does seem fainter after a while.........:blink:

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

Of course the owners get on well with the neighbours, especially when their 300 bikie mates come around for a loooooooong weekend. :rofl:

A hot Sydney night, windows wide open for air and the freight train goes past....


WW

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

[QUOTE=Big Galah;4565807]...at the end of the back garden to be exact.

The house we looked at on Saturday was perfect apart from this (big advantage being a walk to the station - I work in Sydney CBD).

Commuter trains aren't such a big deal, it's the miles-long freight trains late at night or early morning that I guess might be a problem.

If anyone's lived somewhere like this before would you say "never again", or did you get used to it?

Decisions decisions. Of course, I may be too late already and I may regret it when I see the "sold" sigh. Ho hum.

any thoughts?



our house in the U.K had a train line at the end of our back garden. We lived there for 10 years and honestly had no problems at all. You just dont notice at all. However when we came to sell we had a lot of trouble because of it. We had on average 3 viewing a week for 6 months and all of them gave fantastic and positive feedback about the house but were put of by the train line. We ended up selling for £15K less (only offer) and that was to a lad who already lived on the road so he knew the trains were not a problem. So I would say buy if you want to stay for ever but not if you plan to sell some day.
Tracie

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

I saw him on the telly! Poor bugger!

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

My friends live in Glenbrook in the Blue Mountains and have the train line at the bottom of their garden. We noticed the trains when we visited but they don't notice them at all any more.

We live near a RAF base here in the UK and have several planes fly over (particularly on Tuesdays - training day!) but don't really notice them. I guess you just adjust to your surroundings whatever they are.

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

During my days in Western Australia, I lived at a mate's place in Thornlie for about six months. The property backed onto a freight train line... and it was absolute murder. :blink:

I am a very light sleeper at the best of times, but the train ran so close to us that the walls shook and the windows rattled with every passing carriage. :thumbdown:

Never again! Never again! :curse:

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

Why don't you check the timetables and try to go see it at a time when a train will be going past and see how it is? Thats what I would try to do any way.

ob

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

I'm a light sleeper like Vash - I used to be on 24 hour call for work, and the pager could go off any time - despite it being a good few years since I had to be on call I still wake up at the slightest noise :( We live under one of the flight paths, and when planes are flying over us in the morning it wakes me up if the windows are open. It's no problem when the windows are closed, but as we have no aircon that's not an option during summer.

I used to live next to a busy road, and never got used to the noise - I think I became more sensitive to it actually.

I think if you're not bothered by noise on the whole, it shouldn't worry you unless they're going past constantly and blowing their whistle etc. Can you go back and ask the neighbours about it directly?

There was a feature in the SMH the other day about eyesores lowering house prices - it also said that because housing is so expensive, having a few thousand knocked off the price of the house, compared to houses a bit further away, isn't going to be a problem as there will be people like yourselves who can only afford a house in the area with a noise problem or eyesore. The only risk is if the housing market collapses - and if it does that, it won't just be you who'll be up sh@t creek!

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

I will never live near one again - my London flat was seperated by trains by the side of the line and fence,the width of our narrow road and front strip.

On the moving-in day, I left my girlfriend in the house whilst I popped down to the local pub to watch England play Australia at Twickenham.

I got back and she told me about the trains. "The flat shakes!"

It was only the big expresses or freights and whilst the shake itself didn't really bother me, it nagged me from a structural point and future saleability never mind value.

The noise is something you do screen out - but if I recall I never really heard them.

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

Sounds like the family in 'The Castle'.

"Dad reckons its great as when we want to go on holiday we ...."

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

I'm thinking Jake and Elwood :lol:

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

Was the guy you saw down near Maidstone? I can't remember the name of the station but it was in-between Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.

I think it was pretty bad luck to have picked that spot but it just goes to show that things can change quickly for the worse ...

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

is the agent only 'better' cause he thinks you are about to put an offer in?
I would go and knock on the doors of the neighbours and see for yourself, and while you are there ask if there are any boundry disputes & query what it is like to live in the area/railway line etc

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

Thanks for the laugh!!!!!!!!! Made my morning !! :D

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

Actually, even if you can withstand the noise, don't forget about the resale and it's lessened value due to the perception of potential purchasers.

Properties that have noise issues or other detractors such as this are more difficult to sell and it doesn't matter how much you "pretty" them up- buyers will still only see the trainlines and the power cables overhead when they inspect.

Take everything the agent says with a grain of salt as well- don't forget he may be all friendly with you but he's better friends with the vendor :D After all, who's paying him?.....

Good luck with it all and, if you do go ahead and agree to purchase, get a great building inspector who can check for foundation movements. Cracking is common in brick homes close to train lines. Underpinning is not a cost you'd like to be up for when you discover problems after your contract becomes unconditional.

Re: Anyone live/lived close to a train line?
 

We rented a place in Cronulla which backed on to the train line (no freight trains) and we were woken up by trains most nights. Never again.......