Is it safe to live by railroad?

Living near train tracks can have some health consequences. Exposure to noise pollution can harm health, including an increased risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and anxiety.



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In one study conducted at the BNSF Railway Hobart Railyard in Los Angeles, the California Environmental Protection Agency estimated that residents living near a railyard experienced a higher risk of carcinogen exposure.

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The easiest ways to reduce these noises is by installing sound blocking products at the source of entry into your home.
  • Soundproof curtains are one of the easiest ways to combat train noise. ...
  • You can also abate noise by creating outdoor barriers. ...
  • Check your exterior doors, as well as any outlets and openings.


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A train can extend three or more feet on either side of the steel rail, so the safe zone for pedestrians is well beyond three feet on either side. And when vehicles are stopped at a designated crossing, they should remain 15 feet or more from a rail.

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Keep a minimum distance of 15 feet from the tracks when stopped. at railroad crossings, such as school buses or trucks carrying hazardous materials. Listen for whistles or bells when approaching a crossing.

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With a quiet background (countryside night time) 6–8 miles. Suburban, 2–3 miles. Loud city, 1 mile if you're listening for it.

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The reason that trains honk their horns so much at night is because it's dark and the trains aren't so easy to see. Even though the lights are on, we sometimes can't see them coming, especially around the many blind curves near or ahead of the train station.

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Wait until you can see clearly around the first train in both directions. Never walk around or behind lowered gates at a crossing. Do not cross the tracks until the lights have stopped flashing and it is safe to do so. You can be fined for failure to obey these signals.

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These massive, track-mounted vehicles, which use a diesel generator to power electric motors and move rail cars carrying cargo or passengers, are major polluters, responsible for a growing share of the emissions that increase cancer risk, shorten lives and worsen smog across California.

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Test suggest that they create an average of about 85 db of noise (at close proximity). Will a high speed train be noisier? Not necessarily. Older tracks, if not well maintained, can make additional noise as trains rattle over them.

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The Federal Railroad Administration does not currently set any limits on train lengths – and also doesn't regularly track train lengths or their associated risks. That has allowed freight railroad companies to occasionally operate trains up to 8 kilometres (5 miles) long.

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Trains can't stop quickly or swerve. The average freight train is about 1 to 1¼ miles in length (90 to 120 rail cars). When it's moving at 55 miles an hour, it can take a mile or more to stop after the locomotive engineer fully applies the emergency brake.

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The simplest way to keep a safe following distance is to follow the 3-second rule. When the vehicle in front of you passes a fixed object down the road, such as a sign or other landmark, start counting to three. (Make sure you're counting properly; count one-1,000, two-1,000, three-1,000.)

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