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Comment by pstrateman | Hacker News Reader

BART really should be a circle line around the bay.

I read somewhere that getting it to go through the Peninsula (with affluent homeowners fighting such construction) would be a non-starter. I don't recall how Caltrain factored in (it may be a little quieter but it's still certainly pretty loud and runs right through the Peninsula), but I suspect this is why they didn't bother to include that or other options extending service toward the South Bay.

Caltrain runs a screeching loud horn and rumbling noise everywhere it runs. I stayed at a hotel recently (Sequoia Inn, 526 El Camino) - and I was forced to use ear plugs to get any sleep while the Caltrain was running. And I'm a heavy sleeper.

If I remember correctly, legislation was passed in 2007 requiring trains everywhere in the US to blast their horn four times (length unspecified) before every crossing. The only exceptions are quad-gated crossing (I believe that means a gate covering each lane of traffic on both sides) or in specified "quiet zones".

In my area, the trains only get active at around 11:30pm, an continue their racket through the entire night. I'm regularly awakened by needlessly long honking around 4am. It's awful.

This is correct, the affluent communities have consistently shot Bart down. Caltrain is just as noisy but has the advantage of existing long before any of the housing tracts. San Francisco and San Jose Railroad service started in 1863.

If the tracks were deep underground it would be fine.

Of course that would be super expensive though.

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