This Just In: Trains Are Noisy

By Margaret Lyons in News on May 27, 2008 3:33PM

Man, the El sure is loud. A new report from the Sun-Times today looks at the noisiest stations and warns readers that prolonged exposure to El noise could be damaging, though there's nothing to suggest anyone's hearing has been affected at all.

Parts of the Blue and Red Line subways and parts of the Pink Line L track had readings of more than 100 decibels -- comparable to a chain saw.

The highest reading -- 109.2 decibels -- was taken at the Thorndale Red Line station as an express train passed. Most platforms registered between 90 and 100 decibels, comparable to a lawn mower. The Dempster platform on the Purple Line was a conversation-friendly 80.1 decibels, the quietest.

Inside trains, levels were usually below 90, except on the subway, where levels hit above 90 between most stations. The highest in-train reading was 105 between the North/Clybourn and Clark/Division subway stations on the Red Line.

We feel like the most painfully noisy part of the El is the occasional metal-on-metal squealing that sounds like hate being wrestled from Satan's heart. We can handle the rumbling, but that high-pitched, miserable mechanical scream makes our ears sad. [S-T, photo by Kookybites]