Watch: Could riding SkyTrain be hazardous to your hearing? Jordan Armstrong reports there are growing complaints about riding the rails.
Unusually high noise levels on SkyTrains in Vancouver are raising concerns about whether it might be harmful for passengers.
No one expects a quiet ride on the SkyTrain–steel wheels on steel rails does not allow for that luxury.
Frequent riders are complaining of a significant increase in noise on trains travelling in the tunnels downtown. The problem seems to be worse on older trains.
“I’ve seen people covering their ears, wincing,” said NDP TransLink critic George Heyman.
Noisy downtown tunnels
A recent trip on the Expo Line heading from Waterfront Station to Granville Station was so loud, a sound device measured the noise at nearly 100 decibels.
The noise peaks about a minute after the train leaves Waterfront Station and goes around a curve, which is when the screeching begins.
According to experts, any noise measuring above 85 decibels could cause hearing damage.
Audiologist Dr. Mark Hansen tells us that he has heard from clients who tell him the SkyTrain is very loud.
“Really what SkyTrain needs to do is to either fix the problem, or to provide riders with hearing protection,” suggests Dr. Hansen.
Weekly monitoring
TransLink says its own testing found noise levels below 90 decibels.
“We monitor noise levels on the trains on a weekly basis and we grind and smooth our track out on a weekly basis” said Collen Brennan, Vice President Communications and Customer Experience at TransLink.
“That said, that is still a loud noise for people when you’re on that train. I’ve experienced it myself. It’s not unsafe but…I understand how people could have a concern about that so we are specifically looking into that particular area on our track.”
Riders are hoping that TransLink will reach a solution to the noise issue soon.
-With files from Jordan Armstrong
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