Overnight train horns silenced at Kitchener rail crossing

CBC

01-06-2025

People living in the Lancaster and Victoria Street area of Kitchener might find they're sleeping a bit better at night.
Metrolinx has announced they're silencing the overnight train horns that have been honking since mid-April at the Lancaster and Victoria Streets rail crossing.
The transportation agency says it has issued a temporary solution for the overnight hours.
"Beginning [Friday], May 30, at 10:00 p.m. there will not longer be train whistles during overnight hours (between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.)," said a statement from Metrolinx.
"We have re-activated three of the four multi-train warning signs at the crossing and will have a security guard during overnight hours to support at the fourth location."
But Metrolinx said people will continue to hear the train whistles during daytime hours until that work is complete.
Lane Burman lives near the area and said he was "happy with this result."
"Even today, as I work 300m from the intersection, we have noticed a difference in volume. The real problem was the overnight horn blowing at increased decibels. Safety is safety is safety, but the volume was overkill."
The train horns began making noises almost six weeks ago.
Area neighbours question the work
Metrolinx issued a construction notice on April 17 saying it had "temporarily disconnected the dynamic train warning signs at the railway crossing" while their freight partners, CN rail, had completed infrastructure work on a nearby property.
Metrolinx added in its construction notice that people living in the area would notice an increase in train horn use, solely as a safety precaution to remind people that a train was coming.
But people in the area complained as they heard the horns during all hours of the day and night. People also noted the temporary measures listed in the April 17th document had lasted six weeks, so far.
Ryan Porter lives near the intersection. He told CBC K-W the horn blasts were taking a toll on his physical health, only allowing him to get four hours of sleep a night. He contacted Metrolinx with a list of questions about the work being done:
"What is causing this work to be delayed past initial estimates? Who specifically (or what role / committee) within Metrolinx was the owner or decision maker that determined the most effective way to deal with the problem at hand was to simply have trains blow their horns?," asked Porter.
"Why was an interim site plan not put in place during construction that did not put the well being of community members at risk?
What government body, outside Metrolinx, reviewed this project scope before execution, including interim site plans? Kitchener building dept?" he asked.
For area neighbours Michelle Stelter and Jennifer Laurie, they say they're looking ahead to future railway work and wonder if there will be any disruptions to people living nearby.
"For me it's not just about the short term solution about construction," said Stelter.
"I'm also curious to know what can be done for the long term for reducing train noise in these inner city neighbourhoods ... I imagine with more development," she said.
"My hope is that we can ensure Metrolinx, the city, and the region, can make future decisions that take into consideration the quality of life of residents near the tracks," said Laurie.