Doubt over ‘noiseless’ high-speed rail under Primrose Hill

Published: 24 June 2010
by JOSIE HINTON

A NOISE and vibrations expert has suggested claims that residents will not be disturbed if a high-speed rail tunnel is built under Primrose Hill are “too good to be true”.

Engineer Richard Gailbraith, of Chalcot Square, has rubbished promises made by HS2, the government company set up to explore faster links between London and the Midlands, after officials this week attempted to reassure residents that they would not be able to hear trains just 20 metres below their homes.

If approved, trains are expected to carry passengers from London to Birmingham in 47 minutes by 2027. A six-month consultation will begin in the autumn.

So far no details have been provided over noise levels and vibrations underground, but trains are expected to reach 111mph as they travel under Primrose Hill. 

HS2 conceded in April that properties directly above the tunnel would experience a “small amount of settlement during construction,” but said they did not know whether vibrations from the high-speed trains would be felt by residents, as surveys on the soil had not been carried out.

This week a spokeswoman denied residents would experience any disturbance from the line, which they say will be been designed to “isolate vibration” to protect nearby properties.

Mr Gailbraith said: “If they can prove that there will be no disturbance then that’s wonderful. But I find that pretty difficult to believe. In the end you’ve got a huge train not far under the surface of the earth.

“If HS2 are promising that noise levels inside dwellings above the HS2 tunnels will be inaudible, bearing in mind that background noise levels inside many of these houses are as quiet as some of the best concert halls, then that is encouraging. I have difficulty in believing that they could achieve this even if they have an unlimited budget. But, if HS2 can provide evidence, details and undertakings in that respect, then this will be a matter of great relief.”

The line, which would go underground at Delancey Street and travel under homes in Gloucester Avenue and Chalcot Square, would allow 14 400-metre trains to pass through the tunnel every hour.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request revealed that “pass-by” noise levels from trains reaching 250mph above ground is expected to reach 95 decibels – equal to a lawnmower – 25 metres away. But HS2 is yet to release figures for trains travelling under homes.

Primrose Hill councillor Chris Naylor said: “We have clear evidence from other tunnels that noise does come up through the ground and I’m still of the position that the line could go under the park instead of houses. If that option has been thought through we need to see the logic behind building it under homes, and if it hasn’t it needs to be.”

A HS2 spokeswoman said: “The tunnels proposed for HS2 running out from Euston under Camden would not cause noise or vibration disturbance. They would be very similar to the HS1 tunnels from St Pancras in construction and design, and would run through similar ground conditions, and the trains running through those tunnels do not disturb residents with noise or vibration. 

“In addition, the track design within the tunnel would use modern design developed for HS1 and also used in new underground tunnel construction in cities around the world, even directly under concert halls such as the Barbican. 

“This design isolates the vibration from the train wheels and avoids effects on people and property.

“As no decision has been taken on the route, we have not done any site-specific noise measurements.”