Sydney Trains will trial a new track lubrication method to tackle the screeching noise that has frustrated Waverton and Wollstonecraft residents for years.
The sharp 200-metre rail curve in the area creates intense friction between train wheels and tracks, generating noise levels that often exceed 80 decibels.
After years of complaints, Sydney Trains has sourced a specialised noise-reducing lubricant through a global search and will begin testing it in the coming months.
Locals Struggle with Constant Noise
Many residents say the noise disrupts their daily lives, starting as early as 4:30 a.m. and continuing until 2 a.m. Wollstonecraft resident Brian McGlynn said the sound makes it impossible to escape, even indoors.
“It’s louder than a vacuum cleaner,” he said.
He explained that weather conditions affect the intensity of the noise, with particularly hot days making it even worse. Even homes with double glazing struggle to keep the high-pitched screeching at bay.
McGlynn said some neighbours had moved away because they couldn’t handle the constant disruption.
Sydney Trains Takes Action
Sydney Trains acknowledged the issue and said it is working on a long-term solution. A spokeswoman explained that tight curves naturally produce noise as steel wheels rub against steel tracks. However, the organisation is committed to reducing the impact on residents.
The new lubrication method was chosen after an extensive global search and tender process to find a more effective solution for reducing noise.
She said that Sydney Trains is working with suppliers to test the concept before launching the trial in the coming months.
The transport body has already tried track grinding, re-railing, track layout adjustments but these efforts have not provided lasting relief.
Regulators and Global Solutions
In 2021, the NSW Environment Protection Authority fined Sydney Trains $15,000, citing poor track maintenance as a key factor in excessive noise pollution.
Other countries, including Austria, Slovenia, and Switzerland, successfully use track lubrication to reduce rail noise. If the trial works, Sydney Trains may roll out the technology to other noisy sections of the network.
Published 17-Feb-2025