Noisy Victorian train horns lead to dozens of noise complaints

NOISY trains sounding their horns led to 150 complaints to Metro and V/Line last year, with drivers blasted by residents for being too loud.

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

Metro, which runs the city’s suburban train network, received 118 noise complaints while its country counterpart V/Line received 32 complaints in the 12 months to June.

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.

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

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

“The safety of our passengers, staff and the community is our highest priority,” she said.

“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.

Trains have been blasted with complaints over the volume of their horns. Picture: Chris Eastman

“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 operated 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 is approaching or about to move.

Dozens of residents also complained to V/Line about the volume of drivers’ horns.

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“The safety of passengers, staff and the community is V/Line’s number one priority and something we will not compromise on so our train drivers will continue to sound the horn as required,” 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.

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