So nice of CSX to let people know in advance...

Trains mostly sound their horns to warn of their arrival. And to let people and animals get out of their way. I grew up in Alexandria when people would blow their horns to announce dinner to their wives.

I am certainly thankful for the track maintenance and keeping their workers safe. Their workers belong to somebody - someone's Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister - the alternative could be disastrous! I'll just keep some white noise going in my room until they are done. Thanks Patch for the 411.

I can live with a few wake ups if it is kto keep workers safe. Its only for another what 30-45 days or so? Not ideal, but understandable. Freight rail is one of the success stories of US industry which doesn't get touted much, nice to see them reinvesting in keeping their tracks maintained

Everyone needs to invest in earplugs. Cheap solution.

No, propper coordination and communication between the railroad and employees working on the ground should be in place. Additionally, trains are not quiet. If you are on or near a track you can hear them. I live at least a mile from the tracks near Franconia-Springfield and I hear them approaching without the air horns. If they insist on blowing the horns how about once or twice quickly every few miles? Constantly blowing those lound horns within earshot of 150000-200000 is rediculous and uncalled for!!

Train signals, including audible bells and whistles, are required by law. And they should be. Lots of little localities have banned train whistles (which is a difficult thing to do, requiring lots of local and Federal approvals). What happens? People -- including railroad workers, vehicles, and animals get hit by trains. We should take the whistles any day.

For what it's worth, here's what the City's website says:

The trains are very loud. Do they have to blow their steam whistles?
The City of Alexandria cannot regulate train noise due to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) regulations (Sec. 11-5-6-6, 8). However, construction on railroad property is regulated by Sec. 11-5-4 (b)15: "Construction Devices and Power Equipment."

http://alexandriava.gov/tes/oeq/info/default.aspx?id=3840

There is a train blasting its horn right now. I've been hearing it for about the last 5-10 minutes. Is this really necessary at 1:00AM?

This is ridiculous! What about those of us who have to get up early in the morning for work but are awakened by these loud horns at midnight or later? There has to be a better communication system in place. This is not the 1800s.

There's another one. Just blasting the horn at 1:10AM for all 200000 residents within about a 5 mile area to wake up. I hope those guys who are working hard at 1:10am were able to get off the tracks in time. This particular train has only blown its horn about 30 times, I can only hope that was enough to alert the construction crews, at 1:10am!

When everybody is whistle whipped into submission the railroads rob the towns on the BS equipment too hush the horns making way for the crew-less GPS ran train hid behind the curtains. Anything with RR you have to follow the money trail. When the railroads have the country rail-locked enough Our gates will become tow gates.

I am just satisfied that it's not just me thinking the trains have been louder than usual lately! I keep talking to my husband about it and his reply is the same...nothing has changed...we've always been able to hear the train whistles. Well, not like this!!!! It's not only late at night either! They seem to get really loud starting around 7pm. Glad I'm not going nuts!

We live 200 yards from the track. The only time we might hear trains - or their horns - is when we're awake. Most of the 70+ trains passing daily go unnoticed. We're good with that.

With the various types of wireless communication available, why can't the workers and train engineers communicate wirelessly? There are workplace hearing protection earmuffs available with this technology.

I have lived here my whole life and have always heard the trains. The tracks have been here longers that most of you have been alive. Deal with it. Stop winning. People need to stop getting so upset when things are excactly as they would like them.

Whereas I'm supportive of necessary track work, I'm not supportive in the least bit of train horns blaring into ungodly hours of the early morning. There has to be an alternative to safety precautions beside this. I live on Seminary Hill (miles from the tracks) and could hear it loud and clear at 12:30 a.m. I assume because there is no real sound buffer living higher up. I'm extremely sympathetic to those who live near the tracks and think that CSX should provide earplugs to the City of Alexandria. I sure will be investing in a pair tonight.

The railroad has been there since 1834. Everyone living in and around Alexandria, know there are trains that run through the city. Trains are required to sound their horns when approaching and passing work forces along the tracks as well as reduce their speed, which will take them longer to pass the workers thus more horn blowing. If the engineer doesn't comply by this rule, he could lose his job for 30 days or more. So, those of you who are complaining, stop and think that a person could lose their job or one could lose their life all because of a horn .

I live a block from the trains and metro, I hear the metro announcing stops, I hear the tremble of the tracks, sometimes I can feel the vibration and see items in my house vibrate. I love the trains, I love to hear the whistles. I don't have AC so my windows are open almost all year, I love to hear the whistle during the night, it gives me an idea of how much longer I have to sleep. I have small children, they love the sounds of the trains also, and they never wake up hearing the whistles. It kind of lulls them. Its not much longer until the construction is done.

Martha
I understand why they are doing this ...but...what about people like me that have sleeping problems... If I wake up I can't go back to sleep that easyly it was 6 o' clock and I was still awake!!! I will go crazy if this continue like that... There has to be another way to solve this problem for the community!!!......

I am all for keeping workers safe on the tracks, but my goodness, there MUST be another way than just sounding a train horn excessively in the middle of the night right next to a city suburb!

I came in to say what Bra did. I love the sound and I especially love feeling the low rumble when a heavy string of coal cars pass.

Bea, rather.

For those who don't work for a living around heavy machinery. They are most likely already wearing earplugs next to heavy equipment with generators etc. if the workers had to stop everytime a train comes by, it would take 5 times longer. The track safety watches on behalf of the crew and his/ her sole focus is on safety, while the crew focuses on the work at hand. Trains are more dangerous than cars on highway because they have less options , they pretty much can't stop or steer clear. The horn alerts those who do have options to mame sure they are out of way. To put your self in thier shoes, approach a busy intersection with headphone or earplugs in and try to cross in impeded. You can't do it, even with traffic lights, crosswalks and signs. Same reason schools have crossing guards. Not to police the kids, but to watch the large moving metal objects. Federal law mandates audible warnings for railroad crossings and other potential unsafe conditions. For all your annoyance, feel for the folks who live on towns where tracks cross every street along main, that's a lot of horn blowing

I have lived a block away from Potomac Yard for 36 years. I would give anything to hear the old train yard noises in lieu of the rerouted traffic going up and down my street at all hours, not to mention the fact that the wretched new hump back Monroe Ave bridge now carrys the Rt 1 traffic sounds all over the eastern part of Del Ray when before we didn't hear it. You all are complaining about a temporary situation, we here face a lifetime of constant noise. Live with it.

Thankfully there have not been the 30 to 40 blasts from the train horns for the past few nights. I appreciate the need for safety but due to medical issues, it is hard for me to get back to sleep after being awakened by the horns. I don't like to take pills and any sleeping pill takes a while to work. Just glad that the horns have not sounded loud enough to bother everyone. I don't know what CSX has done but everyone is sleeping better. We live about 1 mile from the tracks and can hear the normal horns which are not a bother.
Martha

I live in Island Creek, about 1.5 miles from the tracks as the flow cries. I am a bit annoyed by it, but I guess it's for safety's sake. But it is a LOT of blaring... short little bursts, 10-20 of them each time a train comes thru.

Though, not half as bad as Fort B and that horn they got a year or so back, that played Reveille at 0630 and taps at 2300. Thank God they turned down the volume on those.

If you didn't look at where the train tracks were - and the rich history of Del Ray/Alexandria trains, before living here, then the fault is yours. Invest in better acoustical isolation in your home, white noise generators or something that does the same job, and/or invest in good earplugs. I chose to live a mile away rather than a couple blocks away, and I can't leave my windows open on nice nights but the noise is completely gone with a fan and double pane glass.

I think that the sound of a train passing is very romantic.

If something was, it shall ever be? There's no changing how the way things are done?

A train whistle at one point was the only way to warn long distances. It's the 21st century, perhaps all the workers can wear headsets that block outside noise from the heavy equipment they are using, but sounds a loud tone to warn of coming trains. A loud horn every 5 seconds while the train travels miles through a work zone is not romantic.

So are the railroad look outs lame brains or what? What if everybody did the whistle thing around the work zone?

Some people had made such rude comments toward the community!, like "get better earplugs, change the acoustic of your house, go and see a doctor...." They had solutions for every one!. Nobody is complaining of regular sounds of the train.. we were used to that. We are talking about NOW not from a century ago.

Since I won't be one to protest the sounds, I thought I'd offer a well intended solution that has been working for me. I am using a fan (pointed away from me since its cooler now) to block the noise and some inexpensive ear plugs that work really well. They are blocking all of the other sounds in the neighborhood too - barking dogs, late night neighbors, emergency vehicles. I too have trouble sleeping in general. I definitely need more vacations! HA HA! Here is a link to some great ear plugs that are also comfortable. Maybe they will work for others too. http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-MAX-1-plugs-Uncorded/dp/B0033YLEGO/ref=pd_sim_hpc_1

I've also used a sound machine too in the past with good results. Here is a link to the one I've used. http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-MAX-1-plugs-Uncorded/dp/B0033YLEGO/ref=pd_sim_hpc_1

These recommendations are well intended for those folks who may need a quick fix. I've tried many things over the years to drown out noises that keep me awake. (And everything keeps me awake!) It might be worth a try for a quick fix. If you try it, I hope they work for you.

The copy and paste for the sound machine didn't work as intended the first time and ended up a duplicate of the ear plugs. Here it is...
http://www.amazon.com/Conditioner-Marpac-formerly-Sleepmate-980A/dp/B000KUHFGM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350950382&sr=8-1&keywords=noise+mach

I live right next door to the PG plaza metro station and this is getting to be really bad. Every single night midnigth I mean they start with their so annoying horn! Is there something that can be done to stop this! They shoul put it on question 7 for next presidential elections! Ban those F. Horns!