Train Whistle Reduction

Find out how Surrey is working to reduce train whistle noise around the City.

The City of Surrey is working to reduce railroad noise around the City. See Corporate Report R109: Amendments to Surrey Train Whistle Cessation Bylaw.

Under federal regulation, trains must sound their whistles when approaching public grade crossings.

To reduce the impact of train noise on communities along railway corridors in Surrey, we are passing resolutions to relieve railway companies from having to sound train engine horns.

We recently achieved whistle cessation at Burlington Northern Santa Fe – New Westminster Subdivision Mile 138.98 at Elevator Road.

The City has notified the relevant associations and organizations declared by the Minister of Transport, pursuant to the provisions of Subsection 4(1) of the Railway Safety Act. We will be consulting with the relevant railway companies to agree to terms for whistle cessation.

Background

There are 5 railway companies that operate on railways in Surrey, resulting in 44 grade crossings. 14 of the grade crossings are Federally regulated and 30 grade crossings are Provincially regulated.

City staff are following Transport Canada’s procedures for applying to stop train whistling at public grade crossings. These guidelines are from:

For more information, contact Traffic Management at EngWebmail@surrey.ca, or 604-591-4149.