Former Swiss resident Sebastian Schmid of Vero Beach had this to say about his experiences of living near a high speed train: "The noise of a high speed train approaching and passing at more than 110 miles per hour wakes up everybody sleeping and frightens children, elderly people and animals. In a way, it sounds like a jet plane passing at low altitude." Read full letter here. Unless expensive countermeasures are taken (via the tax dollars of local citizens), the Federal Railway Administration requires engineers begin sounding train horns at least 15 seconds, and no more than 20 seconds, in advance of all public at-grade crossings. Conductors normally must sound the horns for at least 15 seconds before each crossing. Horns must be repeated or prolonged until the lead locomotive or lead cab car occupies the crossing.