Palo Alto Residents Demand Silence: Caltrain Horns Disrupt Peaceful Nights

As of November 17th, 2025, residents of the upscale tech city of Palo Alto have been rallying against an unusual complaint: the obnoxiously loud train horns that keep them up all night. For decades, locals have been complaining about the thunderous noise blasting from the Caltrain tracks, including those living in the neighborhood of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The deafening horn, which can reach almost 110 decibels as trains approach railroad crossings, is as loud as a bustling nightclub or rock concert. Residents, such as local Rachel Croft, have expressed their frustration, with one neighbor's five-year-old child waking up to the jarring noise every single night.

This week, the Palo Alto city council discussed possible solutions to reduce the noise, ultimately deciding to move forward with a four-quadrant gate system. This system will fully block traffic from entering the tracks when a train is approaching, providing a higher level of safety than the current two-gate setup. Council member Pat Burt noted that this will be the first time in decades that the community will not have to endure the horn noise.

While the project faces funding challenges and approval delays, Caltrain is taking immediate steps to improve safety and security, including adding sturdy posts, solar-lit markers, and a new AI-powered rail sentry system to detect any dangers on the tracks. Residents remain hopeful that the long-awaited solution will finally bring them the peaceful nights they have been seeking.