A house near railway track

Lord_Baltimore

marksoton wrote: »

Incorrect. The protocol is for them to sound a horn whenever they see Network rail operatives/contractors near to the track. You might not see these workers but the driver will and he's duty bound to do so.

I stand corrected. What I should have said is that drivers have a penchant for sounding the horn for no apparent reason to me. The crux is that a decibel loaded horn is another 'joy' to living near a railway line.

GaleSF63

I've looked at Street View and the house doesn't appear to be on the road that backs onto the railway?

My living room is about 3 car lengths from a railway line. It's a quiet line; a few freight trains a day and about 15 service trains (and the very occasional steam train which is nice). I don't notice most of them pass - but it isn't a fast line.

Sitting outside when the weather's good isn't a problem either.

I certainly wouldn't be put off where you are looking even if it was one of the houses that does back onto the line.

I'd rather look onto a (busy) railway line than other houses, any day.

Dan-Dan

I live in an end of terrace 3 bed , with a 90 foot gap between the back of the house and the railway line itself

The garden is 70 foot , then you have the rear access road to the garages , then vegetation , then the line , the line is well below the level of the house ,and even the bottom of the garden , i think this is important , because further up the line , there is houses where the trains are the level of the living rooms and the noise difference is incredible

We could only afford the house (at the mortgage size i was comfortable with) BECAUSE of its location to be honest , we figured that the railway were the best neighbours , the view wont change , its really quite peaceful as you look out , and at times when the trains dont run , you actually `notice` the silence...we are also only 1/2 a mile from the station , so near enough to benefit but far enough away not to hear the constant announcements etc

Bad points , to be fair , we are on the west coast main line , so the Virgin trains that go by , if your in the garden or the reception room with patio doors open, you do stop speaking until its passed...same with the freight trains......

And in summer , the seemingly mile long cement/sand carrying trains do go on for ever!

3-cat-bat

If your heart's set on the house and it's benefits to you and your family, I'd not let the noise of trains bother you in the least.
I lived by a Railway and after the first couple of weeks I basically didn't notice the trains at all.
Only on evenings / early mornings, when I was having difficulty sleeping (chronic insomniac), did I hear the faint sound of the train horn being blown to give warning to those working on the line, and in a strange way it was quite comforting - just seemed that there were people 'out there' working and I didn't feel quite so alone in the dark hours of stupid o'clock, when I couldn't sleep but knew I'd to get up at 6a.m. to get ready for the commute to work myself. It was the main West Coast Scottish line down South, so it wasn't a 4 trains a day line ~ like a large former ticket station and waiting room, which I've my eye on up north. Fabulous old building, beautifully converted. I'd not hesitate to buy another home by a railway line, even one that's directly on the Platform!
All best wishes, whatever your final decision ...

AdrianC

How much would that house be worth if there wasn't a railway track there?

Asas

Thanks a lot for all your comments.

I dropped my kid off to the school and went to see behind the land. I saw a railway workman and he said there will be four tracks after one new track added soon and make a road along the train tracks. Not sure whether it will be public road though. Electrification in near future. For a while Diesel engines will run. Will be a lot busier. Many plans in place.

Talked to one mum who live there she said there was occasional vibrations at night. Her house is a bit further away from the house.

I like the area and the house. without the recent changes of the railway activity I would have bought it.

Still agonising.

Asas

It will be a really quick sale with more than 1million mark.

AdrianC

Asas wrote: »

It will be a really quick sale with more than 1million mark.

Exactly. So the price is already discounted to take the railway into account.

The only remaining question is whether that discount is enough FOR YOU, TODAY. You can never take future factors into account properly, so don't even try.

warehouse

I have a friend who lives right next to the Chiltern line at a point where the trains go fairly slowly. Absolutely no problem whatsoever.

My ex-brother in law lives next to the Euston high speed line at a point where the express trains are doing 100mph+. Huge problem with noise and amount of trains and when I stayed over once I almost s**t myself when the first train of the morning went past.

You get my drift?

ManofLeisure_2

I would go with your instincts. Your heart seems to be trying to sell the house to you - it would be great because the schools are good etc. However, your head is saying something else - I may be making a mistake in the financial sense.

Best of luck in making your decision