Would you buy a house near railway track?

manan.shah.82

Hello,

We have found our first home and we are loving it because its the perfect and fits within our budget as well. But only concern we have is it has got railway track immediately next to the garden/backyard.

I know railway tracks can be noisy and have heard few people think that it may have adverse effect on health...... I asked the vendor and she told me it's not the main line so it is not in heavy use only few trains in an hour....I have been in the same area for a while so I also think she's right because I know underground and overground trains run on different rail track...but this can change at any time and may be freight trains might be using this track and they can be really noisy....

so I just need advice few points,
1. have you bought or will you consider to buy a house near the railway track?
2. Has anyone experienced any problem when owner tries to sell the house because it is near to railway track?
3. I'm getting this house little cheaper compare to the other houses may be just because its near the railway line so I know when I'm gonna sell price will increase relatively...but does railway track affects the way house prices increase in future?

Your experiences and thoughts on this will be highly appreciated.

Thank you!

Flat_Eric

manan.shah.82 wrote: »

Hello,

We have found our first home and we are loving it because its the perfect and fits within our budget as well. But only concern we have is it has got railway track immediately next to the garden/backyard.

I know railway tracks can be noisy and have heard few people think that it may have adverse effect on health...... I asked the vendor and she told me it's not the main line so it is not in heavy use only few trains in an hour....I have been in the same area for a while so I also think she's right because I know underground and overground trains run on different rail track...but this can change at any time and may be freight trains might be using this track and they can be really noisy....

so I just need advice few points,
1. have you bought or will you consider to buy a house near the railway track?
2. Has anyone experienced any problem when owner tries to sell the house because it is near to railway track?
3. I'm getting this house little cheaper compare to the other houses may be just because its near the railway line so I know when I'm gonna sell price will increase relatively...but does railway track affects the way house prices increase in future?

Your experiences and thoughts on this will be highly appreciated.

Thank you!

I would buy a house near a train line because I lived near one when I was little and I still miss it !

Have a look here to see what other peeps have said on the subject.
here

inspirespirit

I'm the same as Flat Eric. I lived near one when a kid and loved it. My last house was next door but one to a railway track. You really do get used to it and I didn't even notice after a while. It didn't appear to be any different to selling any other house I have owned. I'd go for it if it is your dream home.

ali-t

I lived fairly close to one and a friend of mine lived next to it and you end up just tuning it out. Even though I can tune it out, I don't think my dogs could and I would worry about them escaping onto the line if our garden backed onto the line. I would be wary if you were going to get a cat as it might not last long if it was an outdoor cat.

Humphrey10

manan.shah.82 wrote: »

I asked the vendor and she told me it's not the main line so it is not in heavy use only few trains in an hour....I have been in the same area for a while so I also think she's right because I know underground and overground trains run on different rail track...but this can change at any time and may be freight trains might be using this track and they can be really noisy....

Important bit in bold. If freight and passenger services are increased on that line, would you still be OK with the noise?

See here for points you need to consider: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/3287.aspx

I'd never buy or rent adjacent to part of the railway network, I wouldn't even consider it.

tessie_bear

we lived by one when i was a child and u tune it out...that sais my friends have pendalinos going past the end of the garden and that would drive me mad...their surveyor said they might have trouble selling due to the proximity of the line

iheartbristol

My Parents bought a house with a train line at the bottom of the garden (not a main line, the Gloucester to Cardiff line before the bristol line joins it further up) A few trains an hour if that. They are going so quick and they're so close to the house that they're gone in an instant and so is the noise. I've been on that train and you can't see into the house from it either (which my folks were concerned about). The dogs used to love it and occasionally they get interesting things being transported down the line. I liked it when I lived there.

MacMickster

If living next to a rail line was as bad as some people make out, then every such house would be up for sale and nobody would ever buy.

To an extent it depends upon your lifestyle. A retired couple who like to spend all day in the garden are going to find the noise far more intrusive than a single bloke who works all day and then goes out most evenings, has double-glazed windows and sleeps with them shut.

Everyone has a vision of their ideal home, and an adjacent railway line is unlikely to be part of that, but few of us are ever fortunate enough to live in our ideal home so make compromises which are usually dictated by price. Only you can decide whether this house will work for you.

daisiegg

My partner used to rent a flat just near to Clapham High Street railway station. The line went right by the flat. It was awful - when staying with him, I found the noise so intrusive, and the way that you could almost feel the floor shake each time a train went by.

My partner lived there for a year or so but when we moved, after a week in the new house he said he realised he had never slept properly at all in the flat by the railway, and had just grown used to being sleep deprived all the time!

I wouldn't live in a flat or house near a railway. But then I also wouldn't live in one on a busy road, or near a pub, etc - but some people don't mind at all. You just have to weigh up how much it really is your dream house.

googler

The whole of the Southern edge of my town borders the rail line, and it doesn't seem to dissuade people from buying there, as some of the most expensive houses in town, recent builds, are to be found there. The rail station is also at that end of town, and it basically equates to

Near railway line =
Near railway station =
Quick and easy commute into City.

People who want to get into the city quickly are happy to move there as it means they get home quicker too.

SuzieSue

I grew up living opposite a railway line about and it didn't bother me during the day but at around 5.30 each morning I was woken up by a freight train going past. I sometimes found it difficult to go back to sleep, but everyone is different.