Summary: WWRNAG / Sydney Trains / EPA Information Session

Attendees: Louise Law (facilitator, TfNSW Environment & Sustainability), Radek (noise specialist, ran most of the presentation), Luke, Dipendra (Sydney Trains Asset Management), Mandy, Shireen (Community/Stakeholder Engagement), David Gallichal and Danielle Playford (EPA, online); Brian, Catherine Burrows, and Robert representing WWRNAG.

1. Low-height noise barrier feasibility study

• EPA required Sydney Trains to commission an independent feasibility study (GHD, 2025–2026) into low-height (up to 1.5m) noise barriers close to the wheel-rail interface.
• Two barrier layouts were assessed (gaps every 50–100m vs. every 20m for "safe places"); the multi-gap option and 1.5m height performed best. Precast concrete panels were chosen over proprietary products on cost grounds, despite similar noise performance.
• Findings: of 949 receivers modelled, 720 (76%) got at least the minimum 2dB benefit, but only 48% reached the "reasonable" 5dB threshold, and none reached 10dB.
• Major operational/maintenance downsides identified: loss of safe track access along the corridor, higher work-protection costs, redesigned inspection/survey methods, longer response times to incidents (broken rails, signal failures), and barrier removal needed for major works.
• Estimated lifecycle cost: ~$7.8M upfront, $68–88M over 50 years, ~$0.5M demolition — total $77–96M.
• Conclusion presented: technically feasible but not "reasonable" — cost and operational impact too high relative to the limited noise benefit — so Sydney Trains does not intend to progress it.
• WWRNAG pushback: Brian, Catherine and Robert challenged several aspects — why lighter/movable barrier alternatives (which they understand exist and are used elsewhere) were dismissed early; whether the $77–96M is actually material against a $2.1B annual maintenance budget; whether the model was calibrated against the group's own 800+ days of on-site noise measurements; and criticised that "stakeholders" consulted for the study excluded the residents' group entirely. They requested a copy of the full GHD report and the model's predicted noise levels at their specific monitoring locations, to compare against their own data.

2. ELPA lubrication trial (Wollstonecraft curve)

• Trial of the ELPA lubrication product (against current LB Foster gauge-face/top-of-rail system) to reduce curve noise (wheel squeal/flanging), run by Melville Equipment Corp with Acoustic Studio doing measurements, under Sydney Trains supervision.
• Site: down track only, Waverton Tunnel to Wollstonecraft/Bridgend; up track stays on existing LB Foster system for comparison (despite a resident's measurements showing the up track is 5–10dB noisier).
• Timeline: rail grinding end of August, baseline measurement ~1 month, then ELPA installation and ~4 months of data collection, acoustic scope completing end of January 2027.
• Success criteria: 50% reduction in flanging/squeal incidents, 3dB reduction in average and maximum pass-by noise (ELPA reportedly claims up to 15dB is achievable elsewhere, e.g. Barcelona/Vienna examples cited).
• If successful, planned rollout is the whole Waverton–St Leonards section, subject to internal environmental/project approvals.
• WWRNAG raised: no defined overall target noise level/decibel goal exists; concern about the shrinking overnight curfew (talk of 24/7 running); frustration that noise guideline targets have worsened over time (60dB in 1997 → 65dB in 2012, effectively withdrawn in 2022).

3. Track maintenance updates

• North Shore up grinding done; North Shore down grinding scheduled 31 Aug–4 Sept; rewelding/re-railing works 23–24 January (Waverton/Wollstonecraft sections).
• New, more advanced rail grinding train being commissioned early next year — gives real-time grind quality data and finer control (not the previously discussed "milling," which remains limited to bridge sections like the Harbour Bridge).
• Monash University engaged to trial different rail profiles (separate from wheel profiles, which Sydney Trains says are already fairly current on newer rolling stock).
• Brian raised that rolling-stock noise specifications used to include a maximum decibel limit for curves, but this was dropped after the Millennium Train, and current trains have no external noise monitoring — he suggested this should be revisited.

4. Communication and future meetings — agreed outcomes

• It had been ~3 years since the last such meeting, which the group found unacceptable.
• Agreed: a full/detailed update meeting in ~12 months, plus an interim written update around March 2027 (once ELPA trial results are analysed) rather than another long gap.
• Sydney Trains/EPA to provide a schedule of the next 6–8 months' key milestones (~5–10 items) so the group can track progress.
• EPA and Sydney Trains to keep their respective websites updated with trial progress; Sydney Trains to notify Brian (as WWRNAG rep) of developments/delays so he can inform the group's ~800 subscribers/Facebook followers.
• WWRNAG flagged unresolved frustration that responses to their last EPA licence-renewal submission were never followed up, and signalled they'll make another submission at the next licence renewal in 2027.

On 16 November 2023, four representatives of WWRNAG met with Sydney Trains and EPA for an update on the progress of Noise Reduction works in our area.  The update was not very promising.

Here is the presentation made by Sydney Trains 

It sets out the works already completed and the proposed future work.  There is currently no proposal to test the ELPA lubrication works.

Here are the minutes of the meeting provided by Sydney Trains.

We are preparing a response to these minutes.

Helen Conway the Community Independent Candidate for the North Shore met with the WWRNAG on Zoom.  If you were not able to participate, here is a video of the event for you to watch.

Since our update in May last year which detailed all the works that Sydney Trains were planning, we have been busy trying to push things along.  Busy, but not necessarily wildly successful! We have met with the local member, Felicity Wilson, the North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker and some councillors and we have been in correspondence with the EPA.  We are waiting for the promised actions.

You can read the  EPA Email Update   email in full or carry on below for a summary of the email and our discussions with the local member and North Sydney Council.

93% of survey respondents say that the noise is the same or worse following the Sydney Trains Works following the EPA fines in November last year.

We received an update on the rail noise mitigation works from George Orel of the EPA. 

I have attached the full text of his email here for you to read. 

In short the story is that Sydney Trains undertook track work, including replacing some rail, machining all the track and grinding the rails into the correct shape for the train wheels. All this work was completed by the end of January 2022 and increased the noise.

The next step was to install lubricators and turn them on. This happened towards the end of April.  The result was a significant reduction in noise near Bridge End.  Unfortunately, after rain the lubrication had washed off and the noise came back for a few hours.

The noise reduction is patchy over time, but I don’t know how effective it is across the full length of track.

If you have not done so, please fill in our survey to help us understand if the works are effective.

TAKE THE SURVEY

article from London Times 9 September 2021  written by Katie Gibbons

The noise from living next to a busy road or railway could raise the risk of dementia, research suggests.

A study found that exposure to rail or road traffic sounds was linked to an increase in the risk of dementia by more than a quarter. The Danish researchers estimated that as many as 1,216 out of the 8,475 cases of dementia in a single year could be attributed to it.

After air pollution, transport noise is considered the second worst environmental risk factor for public health in Europe. About 40 per cent of the population is exposed to road traffic noise above 55 decibels (dB), the EU threshold for excess exposure.

There is a known link between noise and health problems such as coronary heart

We have asked all the candidates for a statement of position on Rail Noise as they stand for North Sydney Council this year. 

You can download our summary HERE.

It is a long standing policy of North Sydney Council to support WWRNAG.

We have strong support across the board, and our current Mayor Jilly Gibson and her running partner Hugo Bauer have been very active in recent times helping to encourage action from EPA.  The Real Independents and Elle Prevost have also been active supporters.  We have collected all their positions into a pdf document for you to print out, and they are all set out below.

The EPA has completed their review of the Sydney Trains response to the rail noise Pollution Reduction Programs - you can read it HERE.

In short they have required Sydney Trains to undertake significant maintenance of the track to make it smooth and keep it that way and have set out a plan for Sydney Trains to test the ELPA lubrication system to help keep the track smooth and quite.

Jilly Gibson, the Mayor of North Sydney and Hugo Bauer, who are standing together at the upcoming council elections, have promised their support to our campaign for the reduction of rail noise. As a first practical step, Mayor Gibson has written the the EPA supporting the requests we have made of them over recent times. Here is a copy of the letter:-

The letter is here!