If you live near the commuter rail in Chelsea, you know the sound. Trains blast their horns as they approach the city's rail crossings.

The city says relief is getting closer. City Manager Fidel Maltez reported that Chelsea and the MBTA have agreed on a technical approach to restore the city's quiet zone, according to the Chelsea Record. Maltez said re-establishing the quiet zone "will effectively stop the train horns in Chelsea."

Why trains sound their horns

Federal rules require it. Under the Federal Railroad Administration's train horn rule, engineers must sound the horn 15 to 20 seconds before reaching a public crossing. The pattern is two long blasts, one short and one long. Horns must be between 96 and 110 decibels.

A quiet zone is a stretch of track where horns aren't routinely sounded at crossings. Only a local public authority, such as a city, can set one up. First, it has to add safety measures that make up for the lost warning.

Even in a quiet zone, train crews can still sound the horn in an emergency, such as when a person, vehicle or animal is on the tracks.

A long road

Chelsea has been working since 2021 to win back its quiet zone status, the City of Chelsea said in June 2025. The city said the horns hurt residents' quality of life, especially for people who live close to the tracks.

The project has faced delays and technical challenges. State Rep. Judith Garcia asked the MBTA's general manager for an update. In June 2025, the city met with Keolis, the MBTA, the state Department of Public Utilities and the Federal Railroad Administration.

That meeting found the city's design had to change because of MBTA improvements on the Newburyport/Rockport line. At the time, the city hoped construction could begin in late fall 2025 or spring 2026.

In 2025, the MBTA also required a second review and revisions to the plans, the Record reported.

Where things stand now

After a summer of back-and-forth, the city and the MBTA agreed on the technical approach. Engineers from Keolis, which runs the commuter rail, reviewed the plans. The city's consultant, VHB, is updating the plans and specifications for sign-off.

The remaining steps:

MBTA approval of the revisions, expected by November 2026

The city's Department of Public Works resubmits the plans to the FRA for final approval

After FRA approval, the contractor returns to start work

"At this time, we expect the MBTA to approve the revisions no later than November 2026," Maltez said.

Work could start in early spring 2027, or sooner if the weather allows. In 2025, the city estimated construction would take about six months once it got the go-ahead.

What to watch

The quiet zone isn't approved yet, so trains will keep sounding their horns for now. The timeline depends on MBTA and federal approval, and it has slipped before. The city's updates didn't list which crossings are involved or what the work will cost.