railway 10 metres from flat - would you buy?

jonewer

roses wrote: »

Not everyone can afford exactly what they want so they have to buy the best they can with the money they have.

OP asked, I gave my opinion. I wouldnt buy a flat next to a railway line and I dont think Hackney is a good place to live.

IMO, OP would be better off looking for a little terraced house somewhere thats decent for the same money.

Old_Git

can you post a link so we can pass comments and be nosy and stuff like that:)

skintchick

I wouldn't, but BIL lives next to a railway line and is perfectly happy. Except when the rats come in his garden! He had to stop putting out bird food as it attracted the rats off the railway line.

Cyril

I prefer road noise if i'm honest as its a constant and you don't hear it after a while whereas my friend lives on the back of a railway line and find she's always listening out for the next train. Kind of like counting sheep I guess.

sharkie

If you have to ask this question with the view of reselling, surely your answer must be NO.

If you want to live there more permanent, beside the noise, think of privacy and the possibility of 1000's of people going past looking through your windows, especially in the evenings when it is all lit up inside. Work collegues may even know if you haven't left?

I'm not sure if it is your line, but there is that is always being 'maintained' on the weekends, should the company ever get their finger out weekends may become noisier.

Yes you will get used to the noise, but potential buyers and renters may not as drawn to it as yourself.

The item I avoid (probably only me) is high voltage overhead cables - been offered these twice and both times I have turned down the viewing - do't care if it looked like Buck Palace and cost £5.

sunshinetours

The privacy issue would probably be more of an issue? If the living room is same height as trains then people will be able to see straight in and I don't think I would ver get used to that. The noise thing probably you would get used to after a while

If will definitely affect your resale market as it has been an issue for you to ask on here. Less of an issue than somewhere out in the country that is next to a train line however as more densely populated areas will generally always have some sort of compromise

Zelie

Take the time to buy a return ticket from the station to the left of the flat to the station to the right of the flat. Get on and sit as far forward as you can and listen carefully and look out the window on the same side as the driver sits. As you pass the area of the flat see if there are any 'whistle' boards or if the driver blows the train whistle. Do this for the other direction.

If there are whistle boards then every train which passes is obliged to whistle (it's due to poor sighting caused by infrastructure and a high likelihood of staff working on the track). Can you cope with that every five minutes (or whatever) all day?

Also, make note of any points near the flat. Trains are noisy going across points no matter how quiet they are on rails and the sound will carry, especially at night.

Have you thought about lighting? Are there any signals nearby? If so, you'd want to invest in blackout curtains. Signals also make some noise every so often so be prepared for that.

As for privacy, it's probably not much of an issue. You can't see much from just driving past and even if a train is stationary outside your back window for a bit then net curtains will solve that. Just don't go running round in the nip at night with the lights on and the curtains open (unless you like that sort of thing, of course).

olly300

There are loads of people who live or rent properties near railway lines in London.

I've lived near a train line and on separate occasion a tube line once it became over ground.

With the train line what ended up waking me was:
1. When the trains went on strike - I woke up after a nightmare because I couldn't hear the trains.
2. And once the lights from the maintenance - they were so bright they shone into my room and the garden was massive.

However depending on what type of maintenance is taking place they will send you a letter in advance so you can be warned to stay elsewhere.

The tubeline was near the kitchen window so caused me no problems.

I prefer living near a train line than the road I live now which is used as short cut for the fire crews (there is a fire station round the corner) and ambulances (plus a hospital at the other end) who think that everyone needs to hear their sirens at 3am in the morning when the road has no other traffic on it.

Old_Git

right you are never going to get a great view but unless the trains stop outside your flat where everyone can see in I would say go for it .The resale will always be affected but you probably got it cheaper in the first place because off the trains

Tony_M_2

I'm glad I found this thread, we are planning to move and, we are viewing a house on Friday which backs onto the main Victoria to Brighton line. Knowing the area and driving past the house I can see how close the lines are to the garden which is quite small. The agent has already said he wanted to point out that the raileway line is very close by but, I'm already aware of that, maybe more of a shock for other people. At the moment the way we look at it, the house seems nice and, the price is definately lower due to the railway line but, it's a nice road and surrounding area, so possibly a small compromise....
It's comforting to read how many people seem to find it quite 'nice' to have trains going by!