CTA Tattler

As someone who lives literally across the street from the Green Line, I have to admit that overall the noise levels from the train doesn't bother me. But I have gotten used to it. Some trains though do force me to up the volume on my TV or ask someone on the phone to repeat themselves if my windows are open. But to me the convenience of having the trains so close is worth it.

Now what is truly annoying is that the pre-recorderd "An inbound train towards the loop will be arriving shortly" annoucement on certain green line platforms could be heard from 2-3 blocks away even after midnight. My fiance and I used to hear it at nights while we were trying to sleep and I was always shocked at how clear I could her it from her apartment with the windows closed. She has since moved so I dunno if its still like that but I would bet it is.

Not to mention the noise INSIDE the cars which can make a conversation with the person sitting directly next to you impossible. And if you're standing next to the door? Fuggedaboudit.

This doesn't surprise me at all. A friend of mine lives right next to the Blue Line (off of Milwaukee) and has to deal with a train we lovingly refer to as 'Sybil'. At odd times of the night (seemingly around 2am and 4am), the train comes barreling down the line with so much screeching and rumbling that it never fails to wake me with a start. With my chest pounding and on the verge of hyperventilating, it often takes me 15 minutes to calm down enough to go back to sleep. I don't know how long it took my friend to get used to it, but it's a testament to the adaptive powers of the mind that she's now able to sleep through it without difficulty.