Noise disturbances from night tube could drive nearby residents to "threats of suicide", warn Transport for London .
"Nuisance noise" could reduce the quality of life and even lead to suicide threats from residents, say the Risk Assessment team.
Residents living near stations operating 24 hours as part of London's night tube could be "at risk of suicide" because of increased noise disturbances, warn Transport for London.
Internal risk assessment teams at TfL have revealed those living near to tube tracks or stations are likely to face significant noise increases, to the point where there are "even threats of suicide".
The team claimed there was every possibility of night tubes creating a "reduction in quality of life of residents through disturbed sleep".
Labour London Assembly Member Dr Onkar Sahota AM called on TfL to use the ongoing delay in night tube plans to make sure all sections of noisy tracks are repaired ahead of the start date.
The official TfL risk assessment, obtained by The Times last month via a Freedom of Information request, identified a four out of five chance risk that “residents who live close to and above tracks are disturbed at night by noise, vibration and ground bourne noise caused by the train service operations.”
The document also found a three out of five chance that those near to stations would also face disruption from station and train announcements throughout the night.
The night service was initially due to start in September 2015, but opposition from unions pushed the launch back and was subsequently put on hold.
TfL also added that the night tube could result in insufficient maintenance time on the tracks, as a result of an “inability to rail grind on Friday and Saturday nights, leading to poorer rail condition, reliability and noise.”
Noise-busting team could make life better for Londoners
Yet if residents think their problems could be solved by complaining to TfL, the FOI revealed that the company's inability to handle the potential increase in complaints would be a full five out of five risk.
Labour London Assembly member for Ealing and Hillingdon, Dr Onkar Sahota AM, said: “Residents regularly complain about the noise made by poor condition tube tracks.
"When the Night Tube starts it will mean even more misery for those people living close to these sections of track who are already suffering from excess noise.
“Setting up a noise-busters team to respond to complaints and quickly identify and fix noisy sections of Night Tube tracks would go a long way to making life better for Londoners living near tube lines.
"Instead TfL seem set to accept that thousands of families could see their quality of life reduced to the point some threaten suicide – that’s just not a risk they should ignore."
The long track to London getting the Night Tube
Dr Sahota added: “The delay to the Night Tube gives TfL the perfect opportunity to fix this problem before it escalates.
"This is exactly the kind of detail that the Mayor should have been focused on resolving instead of picking fights with the staffing unions.
"The Night Tube will be great for London but we need TfL to take the problem of disruptive noise more seriously.”
However, 24-year-old Juin Yong who lives in Acton where the all night tubes would run, said noise levels are always high in London and what's more important is making the city a 24 hour hour capital.
The student, who lives close to North Acton station on the Central line, told Getwestlondon: "Getting around London is already extortionate for so many people in the city and the thought of getting home safely and for cheaper than a taxi after day time hours is not just helpful, it's necessary.
"For a generation who pays two thirds of their salary on rent, it's a lifeline to hear news like this. And yes, it's noisy, but it's always noisy living in these zones and I'm willing to put up with that if it means having all night access to the city."
He added: "Saying it makes people suicidal is quite insulting, using something as serious as suicide for a political issue is over-simplifying it."
March 1 saw unions finally agree on pay terms and conditions , although another setback came as RMT prepared to ballot for another strike after saying maintenance staff workers were not getting the same deal as other workers.
