The municipality of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert is suing Brussels transport network STIB and the Brussels-Capital Region for exceeding the agreed noise and vibration standards.
According to the municipality, the new M7 metro trains have been producing much too much noise for many months now.
The issue was discussed at two information meetings for residents on 16 January and 6 June 2023, that were attended by both STIB and Brussels Environment.
At these meetings, Brussels Environment shared the results of measurements taken in two buildings on Broqueville and Vandervelde avenues that confirmed that the noise and vibration standards agreed between Brussels Environment and the STIB were being exceeded, especially at night.
Consultants commissioned by Brussels Environment also found that the noise emitted by acoustic radiation from building walls exceeded German standards – there are no equivalent standards in Brussels.
The municipality argues that the mitigation measures enacted by the STIB, including more frequent grinding of tracks, quicker repair of defective wheels, gradual replacement of defective wheels, and the use of a cushioning system under the tracks, have not helped to reduce the noise.
Furthermore, the regional environment ministry failed to respond quickly to demands for a stronger legal framework to curb this type of noise and measures to reduce speeds or use the old metro lines at night, the municipality charges.
It also points to other pending demands, such as establishing a permanent noise monitoring system and streamlining the process needed to enforce noise controls.
