Noise - Operating Railway

MTR has agreed with The Environmental Protection Department on an annual program of monitoring noise levels at 25 locations along its railway lines to ensure compliance. Warnings and abatement notices are issued from time to time by the Environmental Protection Department which may be due to activities adjacent to railway premises. In addition there were 51 complaints received from local residents. Each warning and complaint was investigated through ad-hoc monitoring with appropriate corrective actions taken if noise levels proved higher than limits set in the Noise Control Ordinance. The corrective actions were implemented and proved effective in reducing noise levels below these limits. As a result, there were no noise abatement notices or prosecutions brought against MTR Operating Railway in 2003.



An increase in noise complaints was noted with the opening of operations of the Tseung Kwan O line. Wheel turning, rail grinding and lubrication of wheel flanges have reduced high levels of internal noise. The current levels of noise are on par with other major railways, though the levels are higher than the other MTR urban railway lines. A program has been put in place to ascertain the cause of the noise and develop a mitigation program focusing on track support and possibly the wheel rail interface.