Why are Trains Blaring Their Horns at Night?

Residents in Alexandria and surrounding areas may want to buy earplugs. The sound of train horns blaring at night will continue for a few more weeks.

CSX spokesman Bob Sullivan told Patch Thursday the horns are related to track work that CSX began earlier this week. The horns are part of a safety precaution taken to protect workers who are on or near the tracks.

“It’s part of our routine maintenance of our 21,000 miles of railroad in the eastern United States, and they are replacing cross ties and doing some other work,” Sullivan said.

Dozens of residents have complained on various online forums about hearing trains blow their hornes with unusual frequency late at night. Some residents told Patch the noise is preventing them from sleeping well.

"It's frustrating when my 5 year old (who has to get up at 7 and go to school) can't sleep, and my 1 year old keeps waking because of it," said resident Melissa Martinez in an email to Patch.

A post on the Kingstowne Patch Facebook page got almost three dozen comments from residents who are disturbed by the horns. Discussions also have popped up on the Old Town Moms Yahoo group and the Huntington Community Group page on Facebook this week.

The rail work will continue through November along the CSX tracks down to Woodbridge. 

West End Alexandria Patch Editor Rachel Leonard contributed to this report.