Freight train frustration grows in DC's Deanwood neighborhood

WASHINGTON — In one section of Northwest D.C., neighbors tell us they have a train problem. Neighbors in Deanwood have been complaining about noise and vibration for years. Now, they could be getting federal help.

"It wakes you up, and then sometimes when these trains make a sudden stop, you get this big boom sound like a bomb just went off," said Laurence Blue.

Blue lives in Deanwood, just a block away from the Metro stop. While the Metro is loud, he says it's nothing compared to the freight trains that go by.

We were there when one of those trains went by just before 9 p.m.

"In the wee hours of the morning. You can't help but hear it," Blue said. 

Antawan Holmes is an ANC commissioner in the area. He says he's received a lot of complaints from his constituents over the years. 

"It's one of those things where you don't want to get used to that type of sound, like ambulances," Holmes said. 

The neighbors have been voicing their concern for years. Last March, they held a community meeting with Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, who represents the District in Congress. One year later, there's a new bill to show for it. 

We caught up with Norton to discuss the new bill. It would instruct the Department of Transportation to make recommendations to Congress on how to reduce train noise and vibrations. It calls to consider factors like train speed, frequency, hours of operation and even possible track modifications. It would apply to train tracks across the country, not just in D.C.

"It affects more than Deanwood," Norton said.  "We’re talking about trains that go through many jurisdictions. So the District of Columbia can’t do anything by itself. It’s got to have the help of Congress.”

The bill now sits in a House committee as Norton looks for bipartisan support.