- Muizenberg
residents have complained about loud train horns disturbing their peace,
leading to social media posts, an online petition, and a meeting with
local councillor Izabel Sherry. - The
residents suggest solutions like directional horns, improved barriers, and
extra safety signals at crossings to reduce the noise. - A
petition with 365 signatures urges Prasa to take action, citing negative
impacts on well-being and work due to excessive noise, referencing WHO
noise pollution guidelines.
Train horns or hooters creating “excessive noise” have prompted Muizenberg residents to air their complaints on social media, start an online petition and call on their local councillor.
Ward 64 councillor Izabel Sherry called a meeting with affected residents last week.
“I have arranged a meeting with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) later this week,” she commented. “I cannot answer for them as to regulations but did say I would see if the City can test the decibel levels.”
In social media complaints, one resident said he understood the need for warnings at level crossings, however train horns have become louder than previous years.
“Trains have always announced their arrival at the level crossings but the older trains either had softer hooters, or the sound was directional,” he said.
“The new ones are ear splitting if you are adjacent to the railway line, as is the case with my home. If you don’t believe that, please contact me directly and I will invite you for a cup of coffee in my backyard and we can listen together.”
He suggested that Prasa rather improve the barriers at rail crossings.
“The train horns could easily be made directional, as is the case with freight trains. In addition, Prasa could improve the barriers at the level crossing to make it impossible to enter them when a train is coming. They could even do what is common in many other countries, including bells, whistles, lights and other things to let people know a train is coming.”
Another resident, who claims to live close to a railway crossing, said the noise is a constant disturbance.
“We live over a kilometre from the railway, yet the constant blaring of train horns wake us up early mornings. While train horns are necessary for safety, it’s hard to believe they need to hoot as often and loudly as they do,” he commented.
“It feels like there’s little to no regulation on this, and it’s causing unnecessary noise pollution. A possible solution could be to fit trains with dash cams to record incidents and justify the reasons for hooting. This would ensure horns are only used when absolutely necessary and help maintain some peace for nearby residents.”
Several residents agreed that current train horns were “ear splittingly” loud.
“Whilst I agree the hooting is loud, it is in fact ear splitting. I must say, the cause is the cars and pedestrians not adhering to booms and lights,” one said.
“People and vehicles ought to be fined, then there would be reduced hooting and they could reduce the volume, but until people adhere to the rules, I guess very little would be done.”
Meanwhile, a petition started on change.org in August last year, Muizenberg residents demanded Prasa take immediate action on the train horn noise.
“We as residents of Muizenberg, Cape Town, have been enduring the tormenting noise caused by train horns. These noises are not only disturbing our peace but also impacting our jobs as we have to halt our work and meetings every time a train passes by honking its horn,” the statement reads.
“Our well-being is severely compromised due to the sleep deprivation and incessant noise, further exacerbated by the fact that many of us are working from home.
“According to the Environmental Noise Guidelines from the WHO, exposure to levels greater than 53 db can result in negative impacts. Unfortunately, the noise levels from our local train horns far exceed this.”
The petition, has to date, garnered 365 signatures.
