Not long ago, Ian Links prepared a submission to the Sleep enquiry held by the Federal Government.  We undertook a study of how people in the area sleep using the "SleepScore" app on the iPhone. The app tracks sleep patterns and calculates a "Sleep Score" based on a rating process developed by ResMed.  We found that around Waverton and Wollstonecraft, people were not sleeping well.

You can read our full submission here: WWRNAG Sleep Enquiry Submission

Or if you like you can read on here for the key ideas:

WWRNAG has begun a sleep impact study of the influence of rail noise on neighbouring residents.  Using the smart phone app “SleepScore”, the group has collected sleep data on a number of people who live in close proximity to the train line.

A sleep score is a number between 0 and 100 which indicates the quality of sleep by combining a score for the various types of sleep experienced by a subject.  The sleep score was developed by the Australian company ResMed and has been applied to a large number of people of all ages.  The sleep score for an individual can be compared to the normal sleep score for the general population using the ResMed collected data.  The SleepScore app records movements of a subject during the night by emitting and scanning a sonar-like sub-hearing sound.  It reports sleep score, a detailed breakdown of sleep patterns and the number of times a subject is awoken.

Current data collected suggests a consistent sleep score between 10 and 20 points below the normal population scores. This lower score is driven by longer time to fall asleep and more frequent waking during the night. WWRNAG members participating in the SleepScore measurement have reported waking events between 8 and 11 times during the night, compared with a population average of less than 6 times. Both the lower Sleep Scores and the high frequency of waking events are highly correlated with train noise such as the high number of pass by events between 10:30 and 11:30 pm and the shock of the first train around 4:30am.  The impact on health is easy to imagine.

Personal Experiences

There are numerous reports of long term and rental residents moving from the ara due to the impact of train noise on their sleep and social amenity.

The number of affected residents is unclear but based on complaints to ST, the EPA and WWRNAG it is substantial. The demographic changes occurring over the past decade, with the rail corridor proposed for high density development to cope with the increasing population in Sydney, it is clear that the numbers affected will increase markedly. The impact will be amplified by the increasing number of families with young children being raised in high rise unit blocks close to the railway. Noise rises unimpeded increasing the impact.

Victor – Long Term Wollstonecraft Resident: “ For the past 20 I have been communicating with Sydney Trains, the Local Member(s) and the Minister for Transport about the disastrous effect of rail noise on local residents. In the late 1990’s the major problem affecting my sleep was “Wheel Squeal”. In response to my correspondence, the matter was raised in the NSW Parliament (Hansard, 7 May 2003 P69) by the Hon. Jillian Skinner (Member for North Shore) as follows.

“I cannot imagine anything more debilitating than trying to go to sleep at night amid the constant squeal of wheels as trains hit the curve on a track that is not aligned and has various other problems.”

For a period in the mid 2000’s the Wheel Squeal abated. Unfortunately 3-4 years ago, coinciding with the introduction of the Waratahs the noise reappeared, but as a rumble, probably attributable to build-up of corrugations on the top of rails. Since then the noise has only got worse. Currently I am woken each morning around 4-30am by the noise from the first train coming down the valley from the tight curve at Wollstonecraft Station, although I live several hundred metres away. I have put in acoustic glass to no benefit. I can’t open doors or windows for ventilation at night, which severely impacts my amenity”.

Judy – Long Term Wollstonecraft Resident: “For the past 50 years I have lived a stone’s throw from Wollstonecraft Station. I can’t open windows or doors because of the unbearable noise. Station staff are forced to wear earplugs to protect their hearing. Despite all my complaints – nothing has changed. Sleeping is severely affected, particularly by the incessant flanging. Wollstonecraft Station is the worst affected curve on the whole network. Moving is not an option”.

Brian – 5 year  Wollstonecraft Resident: “ I live in a residential block adjacent to the Wallumetta Curve near Bridge End where ST has been conducting monitoring under the PRP. I thought that putting in double glazing would solve the problem but it did not deliver the outcomes promised. Because of the increased number of trains (>400 per day) with each lasting 25-30 seconds we have virtually continuous intermittent noise exposure.“

Ian – Family Unit at Waverton for 46 years: “ Since we moved into the unit overlooking the curve south of Waverton Station 8 years ago, we have been forced to sleep with all windows and doors closed, with no natural ventilation, particularly on hot nights. We very rarely have visitors over, we can’t use the balcony and have to turn up the television to hear it over the train noise.”

Caroline – Resident of Waverton for 8 years: “The noise is so bad that I sleep in the bathroom when I am staying with my friend Peggy (despite a bedroom being available – it is exposed to the train noise).”

The important question is how Sydney Trains can continue to exceed EPA and World Health Guidelines on noise pollution with no constraints? How can Sydney Trains continue to increase the number of trains through a corridor which contains the tightest bends on the network, passes through a high density population area, already has more trains than any single line on the network and exceeds recommended noise guidelines for night time noise levels by a factor of 25 -̶ all with no environmental impact study or noise mitigation?

The NSW government has created an EPA and part of its remit is to mitigate noise pollution.

We don’t need yet more years of ‘research’ and ‘trials’ by ST and EPA. The scientific and engineering explanations of excessive train noise in W-W area and the things that can be done to lessen it are well known. What the NSW Government, the EPA and ST have failed to do is undertake proper research into the health effects of that noise.