I can weigh in on this. We are currently selling our house, and we are in the train horn zone along route 301. We patiently waited for two years until the new horn rule went into effect before we listed our house. The new rule requires that the sound not exceed 104-111 dBa. (basically the same as a car horn).
We have instructed our real estate agents to make sure that prospective buyers know about the train track and that a disclosure be made. They are doing that, and in fact several prospective buyers were in the house when the train passed, and found it to be a "non issue."
We have over 100 acres of open land behind the house, and, in fact, the existence of the rail line along route 301 protects the property from ever being developed. The state will not permit car traffic to cross the tracks and they will not permit another crossing to be built.
Five years ago, when we built this house, the train was loud. Now, we are now able to sleep at night with our windows open. This is a blessing to anybody in this area who was not informed of the issue back during the original development of Chatham and Calumet.
If you wish to see the information on my house, please see my ad here on Talk of The Villages
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19938 I hope you all wish me well on the sale of my house, and if you know anybody who would like a beautiful designer home, have them call Realty Executives Sally Love and Cindy Wise. Call Sally direct at 352-430-6960 or Cindy at 352-446-8964.
It is not necessary for us to hide anything from our prospective buyers. Below, I have copied a portion of the public information from the new FRA train horn rule, if anybody wishes to read it.
If you wish to read the whole ruling here is the link
http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/rrd...oHornsDEIS.pdf
Option 1. Limit the maximum permissible train horn sound level so that it would not exceed 104 dBA. This sound level is believed to be sufficient in most circumstances to provide adequate warning at crossings using automated warning devices but is less effective at crossings with only passive protection.
Option 2. Limit the maximum permissible train horn sound level so that it would not exceed 111 dBA. This sound level is believed to be effective under many circumstances at passively signed crossings.
Option 3. Variable Level Option. Under this approach, train horns would be required to be capable of sounding within a low range (96 to 104 dBA) approaching any crossing with active warning devices and within a higher range (104 to 111 dBA) at any crossing not equipped with automated warning systems.