Volume of Caltrain Horns To Be Lowered

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July 31, 2009

Caltrain has begun installing regulator valves that will allow a dramatic reduction in the level of noise produced by its horns. The valves are adjustable and will allow the volume of the horns to be fine-tuned. The volume will be returned to the previous level of 98 decibels, which is at the low end of the range set by federal law.

Although crews will work on the project through the weekend it is expected to take several weeks to install the valves on all of Caltrain’s 29 locomotives and 34 cab cars.

Caltrain moved the horns from underneath the trains to the top of the trains when it was discovered that the horns could not produce the sequential blasts required by federal law. This increased the volume and the range of the sound.

Train horns are regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration, which stipulates the decibel range of the horns, the pattern of blasts and when the horn must be used.