Cartoon by John Sadler www.johnsadlerillustration.com

• THANK goodness the RMT union is taking action over the appalling levels of noise on some sections of the Underground, and advising drivers to slow down through affected sections.

Transport for London claim that they were trying to reduce levels of noise transmitted to the surface. If so the experiment has been a dismal failure.

The unfortunate people who live directly above deep-level tube lines report that the noise has become far worse. Google “TfL Pandrol Vanguard” for details.

Staff and passengers will be familiar with two distinct types of noise. The most painful to the ear is a continuous screeching.

The other is best described as the under­carriage being shaken to bits. It is hard to believe that this vibration is not causing premature wear, if not direct damage, to both train and track.

TfL claim that damage to hearing is highly unlikely, (Tube drivers in go-slow protest over track screech, October 3). Have they done a proper risk assessment?

The HSE control of noise at work regulations 2005 state that a risk assessment is needed if “You have to shout to talk to someone 1 metre away” for more than 45 minutes per day, an estimated noise level of 90 decibels.”

This certainly corresponds to my experience as a passenger. Eave, a company that specialises in noise induced hearing loss, recently mapped noise levels across the tube network.

Some of the highest readings were on the Northern line, such as 95 decibels between Camden Town and Kentish Town.

Your article quotes the London Underground asset operations director as saying “[We] are working with the market to develop new technology to try and reduce noise across the network”.

This is absurd. They don’t need new technology; just to revert to the old technology that was doing a perfectly fine job. TfL should conduct its engineering experiments in the laboratory not on operational tube lines.

JOHN COTTRELL
Regents Park Road, NW1