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08/08/2023 11:01 AMIn response to an inquiry over the use of train whistles in the area, an Amtrak spokesperson explained the reason for the noise to the Harbor News.
Residents of Westbrook and Clinton may have been wondering about loud noises coming from the trains in the Grove Beach North area in recent weeks. Westbrook resident Paul Mateer noted the horns particularly over the last month and a half in the area of Grove Beach North headed toward Clinton.
“It was always blowing six, seven, eight times a day,” Mateer told the Harbor News.
The Harbor News contacted a spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Transportation, who said the matter should be referred to Amtrak.
A spokesperson for Amtrak explained that the Federal Railroad Administration has rules which govern train horn usage. “Under the Train Horn Rule (49 CFR Part 222, issued on Aug. 17, 2006), locomotive engineers must begin to sound train horns at least 15 seconds, and no more than 20 seconds, in advance of all public grade crossings,” the spokesperson said.
In addition to when the horns must be blown, rules stipulate how loudly the horns must be blown.
“Train horns must be sounded in a standardized pattern of two long, one short, and one long blasts. The pattern must be repeated or prolonged until the lead locomotive or lead cab car occupies the grade crossing. The rule does not stipulate the durations of long and short blasts. The maximum volume level for the train horn is 110 decibels, and the minimum sound level is 96 decibels,” the spokesperson added.
Contacted again on Aug. 1, Mateer said he has noticed that the trains are blowing their horns less.
“They’re not doing it as much; they start just about at our road. It’s just been happening June and July that I noticed,” Mateer said.