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.

Meeting with Felicity Wilson

In September 2022 we met with Felicity Wilson to discuss the lack of progress and effectiveness of works to reduce noise.

She agreed to take the following actions:-

1. Contact the Minister for Transport and Rob Stokes who still has responsibility for TAHE (Transport Asset Holding Entity) to bring a top down focus on resolving the issue.
2. Push for ELPA lubrication testing and installation
3. Push for noise measurement
4. Approach EPA CEO for an update on where he thinks the WW noise issue is and bring him up to speed on our position.
5. Report back to WWRNAG as to progress, and timing of meetings.

Felicity Wilson met with the EPA soon after and as a result at the end of October 2022 we received an email from George Orel of the EPA providing us with an update of works completed and works planned. We await feedback on the remaining issues.

Update From EPA

In short, the works completed involved some rail replacement and machining and grinding of the rail throughout the area and the installation of three new TORFMA (Top of Rail Friction Modifier Applicator) units  “to complete coverage through all curves”.  Sydney Trains noise measurements were reported as reducing the noise by 1-3 dB, but increasing it by 2-4 dB at Wollstonecraft Station.  It turns out that they did the grinding incorrectly at Wollstonecraft.

We responded to George that our survey of members found that the works did not reduce the noise, except perhaps for a few days early on.  We also mentioned that we were concerned that Sydney Trains felt that the TORFMA installations completed the coverage of the curves, as more than half of the relevant track was not covered.

George also set out the planned works.

Planned works 2022/2023

Sydney Trains have committed to conduct the following works over the 22/23 financial year to mitigate rail noise in Waverton and Wollstonecraft.

• Carry out a review of the existing rail profile templates and determine adjustments required to improve steering and subsequently curve noise impacts
• Carry out cant adjustments for the rail profile where required, which will lead to a reduction in the balance speed for each curve, and a reduction of average noise emissions.
• Carry out tamping (ballast packing) for the remainder of curves in the area to ensure design cants are in place
• Develop a tailored rail profiling strategy for the Waverton Wollstonecraft area, introducing target post roughness measures and adjusted grinding schedule

Meeting with North Sydney Council

We met with North Sydney Council in September 2022.  We met with the Mayor and one of the councillors to discuss how NSC could support our campaign – they expressed support during their election process earlier on.  The Mayor undertook to do the following:-

• The mayor to prepare a resolution for the 29 September Council meeting to set up a steering committee for rail noise action comprising Council ( chair and host), Sydney Trains, Transport for NSW, WWRNAG, EPA and Felicity Wilson with a view to creating some momentum in the resolution of the noise issue and to allow for better communication and transparency for all parties.
• NSC to set up a mechanism to allow WWRNAG to liaise with council where necessary to seek approval for any community action such as handing out information on the streets or having an assembly.
• NS council will contact Howard Collins to re-engage him in the solution and to find the right people in ST to resolve the problem.
• Main issues to address - testing ELPA and providing design for the solution to treat all the noise affected area, and to ensure that someone collects data on the noise across the whole area and shares it publicly.

We have followed up on these matters, but as yet heard nothing.

 WWRNAG Comment: 

The outcomes that can be achieved will be dependent on attention to detail. 

Failure to evaluate the Slovenian Lubrication System is a continuing disappointment. It is reported to reduce wear-and-tear by 2/3rds with major reduction in maintenance costs while reducing noise levels by >10dB. The importance of effective Lubrication is illustrated by greatly reduced noise when the tracks are wet!

And a reduction of 1 to 3 dB is ludicrously small given that the noise is more than 18dB in excess of world standards.

Comments Welcome!