Auntie experiences ‘Earthquake’ every day in Bukit Batok caused by MRT trains with noise levels that could damage her hearing

A 76-year-old woman working at Bukit Batok MRT station has noticed that the noise from passing trains is getting louder. She said it is as loud as an earthquake.

The startling sound makes the woman panic, causing her to miscalculate change for customers during her shift from 5 am to 2 pm.

“During the peak hours of day and night, the frequency of the trains increases, and they’re so loud it makes my head ache,” said the woman to Chinese language newspaper Shin Min Daily News.

The concerned worker also claimed that in the two years of employment at the station, the sound of the trains passing has become louder recently.

A Shin Min Daily News reporter conducted a decibel (dB) metre test on a train passing the North-South line from Jurong East to Marina South Pier.

According to the test, the train generated noises from 82.97 to 84.55 dB, with the loudest reaching 89.6 dB.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that noises above 70 dB can damage hearing if it occurs over prolonged periods, while a range of 80 and 85 dB requires only two hours of exposure before possible hearing damage occurs.

SMRT’s Senior Vice President for Maintenance told Shin Min Daily News that MRT noise levels are within a safe range.

He added that additional maintenance work would be conducted on train tracks to reduce noise further.

Meanwhile, netizens agreed with the concerned woman as they too lived near the MRT.

“Yes, I agree with the auntie. Previously I stayed near MRT. The coming in and out train is really noisy. Infrastructure is aging, so the noise definitely increases. Thank goodness, I had shifted to other place,” said Facebook user Bulan Bintang.

“SMRT says MRT trains’ noise levels are within limits. But didn’t say when they did the noise levels testing. Maybe it was done 20 years ago,” added Facebook user Yauq Cin.

One Sarah Ang hoped SMRT could assist the woman with her concerns. “She is a senior, after all.” /TISG

Filed complaints to HDB since 2019 and no solution to dragging furniture noise upstairs