London Mayor Sadiq Khan agrees to meet Redbridge’s Night Tube noise victims

Keith Prince and Peter McNaught, Operational Director of the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria Lines. Archant

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Redbridge families who have suffered through horrendous noise caused by Central line Night Tube services can expect to meet the Mayor of London soon to discuss the problem.

Residents living near the tracks in South Woodford and Wanstead have reported excessive noise well in excess of the World Health Organisation’s limit of 45 decibels.

Transport for London (TFL)’s attempts at solving the problem, including skimming the tracks, have so far proved unsuccessful.

Yesterday, during Mayor’s Question Time at City Hall, Keith Prince, assembly member for Havering and Redbridge, called upon Sadiq Khan to meet with him and some of the residents affected to try and find new solutions.

The offer was accepted.

Mr Prince said: “I’m pleased the Mayor is willing to look at this issue as all other attempts so far have failed.

“The Night Tube is an important feature for London but it must not be operated at the expense of many residents who live near the tracks and are currently subjected to appalling levels of noise through the night.

“I look forward to sitting down with the Mayor to address this problem.”

Back in February, Leyton and Wanstead MP John Cryer used his regular Recorder column to highlight the issue, saying the problems were caused by wooden sleepers, which could absorb more shock but were worn away quickly, being replaced by concrete ones.

He claimed that the issue had been a long-running one, and that Transport for London had promised him a solution by September 2016 that never materialised.

In April, the Recorder reported that entire sections of the Central line in Wanstead were due to be retracked in a bid to stop what residents described as “a deafening screeching sound”.

As trains speed along the line, near Cambridge Park, Wanstead, a loud, high-pitched sound is made as the wheels rub against curves in the track – making it one of the loudest points in the whole Tube network.

At the time, Mark Wild, managing director of London Underground, said: “We completely understand how important it is to minimise noise for our neighbours and customers, and we are doing everything possible to do so.

“I would urge anyone worried about noise to get in touch with us so we can come and investigate and work out how we can mitigate noise most effectively.”

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