Train noise annoys

Metro, V/Line fend off complaints about loud horns

TRAIN drivers blasting their horns led to 150 noise complaints to Metro and V/Line last year.

Metro, which runs Melbourne’s suburban train network, received 118 noise complaints while its country counterpart V/Line received 32 complaints.

Train horns are used when a driver perceives a danger such as people being too close to a platform edge at a station, for trespassers, at level crossings, and when staff are working near the line.

Horns can also be used when a driver is approaching and departing a station.

Metro spokeswoman Sammie Black said horns were a safety device used across the world.

“Every day, our drivers witness people taking risks around the railway and drivers will use the horn as a safety critical device if they perceive a danger. Unlike a car, our drivers are unable to swerve the train or bring it to a stop quickly and the use of the horn will warn people that a train is approaching.”

Metro, which runs more than 14,000 train services each week, says it received feedback from 118 residents regarding the use of horns over the past 12 months to June.

V/Line says it has received feedback from 32 residents around drivers using horns over the past 12 months to June. It says it ran more than 88,000 long-distance train services for the same period.

V/Line spokeswoman Ebony Jordan said the sounding of the train horn was a critical safety measure to warn people in or near the rail corridor that a train was approaching or about to move.

“The safety of passengers, staff and the community is V/ Line’s No.1 priority and something we will not compromise on so our train drivers will continue to sound the horn as re- quired,” she said.

“One of our quick-thinking train drivers helped avoid a serious incident near Ballan earlier this year by sounding the horn to alert a trespasser that the train was approaching.”

Noise from trains, including the horn, is governed by section 251B of the Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983.

This states that noise from trains does not constitute a nuisance and is exempt from noise control legislation.