Passengers on the Victoria, Northern and Jubilee Lines have faced peak noise levels of more than 100 decibels
By Kumail Jaffer, Local Democracy Reporter
Londoners on three major Tube lines are experiencing “dangerous levels” of noise while on the Underground network, new data shows.
Passengers on the Victoria, Northern and Jubilee lines have faced the notorious ‘tunnel screech’ at levels of more than 100 decibels (dB) – louder than hearing a nearby chainsaw or power tool. Exposure to such sound intensity can cause hearing damage, as well as disturbing residents above ground.
The data, revealed by Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London’s office last month, also shows that the network has received 707 noise complaints, including 641 relating to noise experienced inside Tube carriages and 66 at stations, over the last three years.
TfL measure sound exposure in carriages by calculating the average noise level over a specific period of time on each line.
Commuters on the Northern line faced up to 104 dB in the worst periods, with Victoria and Jubilee line loyalists suffering 102 dB.
Those on the Hammersmith and City line, which runs entirely overground, fared best, with a maximum average noise level of 81 dB, comparable to a hair dryer or vacuum cleaner. The same line also had the quietest average figures, at 71 dB, 14 points quieter than the Victoria line.
Such noise levels have sparked hundreds of passenger complaints, with the Jubilee, Central and Northern lines generating the highest number of in-carriage grievances in 2026.
Elly Baker, the Labour’s Transport spokesperson on the London Assembly, said: “Passengers should not have to put up with excessive noise every time they travel on the Tube. TfL’s own data shows noise is reaching dangerous levels in parts of the network. This raises serious questions about the conditions passengers are travelling in.
“Despite years of complaints, there is still a lack of clear information about why some parts of the network are particularly noisy and what steps are being taken to address the problem.
“TfL needs to be transparent with passengers about the causes of this excessive noise and publish a clear plan to reduce it.”
There are currently no statutory statutory limits for passenger exposure to noise while travelling, the Mayor confirmed, though TfL “recognises the importance of reducing the impact of noise on customers.”
In a written answer to the London Assembly about the causes of the noise, the Mayor said: “There are a range of factors that contribute to noise levels inside London Underground carriages.
“These include the track curvature, the speed of the train, whether automatic train operation is in place, the spacing and condition of the sleepers, and the overall track form.”
In July, Sir Sadiq Khan said the main cause of track noise was “rail corrugation” and that he has set aside £9million for “rail grinding” work to help mitigate this.
He also noted that TfL have started trialling “resilient base plates as part of their track renewal programme which can help reduce vibration” as well as varying train speed “on curves prone to specific types of corrugation.”
