MTA LIRR Intends to Develop Application for Waiver From Federal Railroad Administrati

[Trainspotter]

MTA LIRR Intends to Develop Application for Waiver From Federal Railroad Administration to Reduce Train Horn Noise

Modified Train Horn Tested at Cedarhurst In Move To Ease Noise Level For Community

 

The MTA Long Island Rail Road intends to develop an application for a waiver from the Federal Railroad Administration's minimum train horn decibel requirement. The move to seek the waiver was announced following a test of a modified electric train horn at the Cedarhurst Station today. While the test results demonstrated lower decibel levels, the LIRR recognizes that train horns are considered too loud in many suburban communities.

 

Cedarhurst Mayor Andrew Parise and NYS Senator Dean Skelos requested that the LIRR investigate different horn types. As a result, the LIRR developed a modified horn for the M7 electric trains, which was tested today and showed improvement.

 

LIRR President Helena Williams said: "The modified horn produced better results – lowering horn sound levels by up to 3 decibels. The LIRR believes it can maintain a safe operation with horns set at a lower sound level. Since sound reverberates off buildings near the tracks, we will develop a petition to request a reduction in the FRA standard of 96 decibels."

 

To prepare the petition, the LIRR will be performing additional tests of the modified horn at a variety of train crossings throughout the LIRR's system. The LIRR will be providing the data on the horn testing in its submittal to the FRA requesting the waiver on train horn decibels.

[Harry]

I guess if you live by a railroad you're gonna hear a train horn once in a while. I wouldn't mind hearing a train horn in the middle of the night.

[sebbieprops]

I know someone who lives in Mount Vernon, 3 blocks away from the Metro-North station. From what I've heard, the train horn is audible (indoors) from that distance sometimes.