Angry locals near new Sydney metro hit with loud alerts, chimes

While Sydneysiders have been celebrating the opening of the city's newest metro line, some local residents are angry about the "distressing" levels of high-frequency noise.In the early hours of Friday morning, more than 1,000 commuters were among the first to board the inaugural Southwest Metro service at Bankstown station, which arrived in the city a short time later.By 10am, it had been used by 18,000 people, with Bankstown and Campsie the most popular of the route's 10 stations, according to NSW government data.Hurlstone Park is one of the 10 new stations on the Southwest Metro route. (ABC News)It was estimated that by 6pm, there would be more than 37,000 users. Bill Kandiliotis lives 500 metres away from the Hurlstone Park metro stop.The 25-year local told the ABC that the old T3 train line, which was shuttered in September 2024 to make way for the new driverless technology, was never as loud as the metro's constant blaring alerts."The chimes, I can hear the chimes inside my home every four minutes, and they do this until 1am in the morning," he said."So it's insane ... at the moment it's a mental health issue, and nothing is worth this."Accessibility has been central to the design of platforms and carriages, which includes the use of flashing lights and loud chimes to warn passengers when the doors are opening and closing.Station announcements and sounds, according to Metro Trains Sydney, are also required for safety and operational reasons.Ms Kandiliotis says he can hear the chimes "inside my home every four minutes". (ABC News)Southwest Metro marked the completion of the M1 line which stretched 66 kilometres through the CBD to the north-west.Services run every four minutes during weekday peak periods and every 10 minutes in the evenings and on weekends.Chimes 'ring through homes'Mr Kandiliotis welcomed the faster journey times and connectivity, but felt the chimes were "unnecessary" and showed a "disregard for local residents"."I came down here for a community meeting, and I was shocked at what people were going through," he said."Some people are complaining that there's security cameras right inside their homes, they're complaining about the lights, but mostly it's the chimes that every four minutes it rings through their homes."He said his complaints to officials had been "ignored", and was calling on the state government to "turn the chimes down"."In the meeting there was one family who were saying they were sick and tired of it, and were saying they're thinking of selling, which is a disaster for them."[I'm] not only distressed, just angry as well that nobody cares about normal people that are affected."Earlier in the week, a number of motions were voted down at a City of Canterbury Bankstown council meeting, councillor Barbara Coorey told ABC Radio Sydney.Scott also lives about 80m away from the stop, and said he could hear announcements through closed windows."I've noticed that since the metro station has been up and running, and they've been testing it, the announcements they make are quite loud," he said."I can hear them very clearly from my bedroom with the windows closed and they happen every four minutes and I know every single one of them."Other locals have taken to social media to share their concerns via the recently created Metro Noise Reduction Group.Michele van der Sander from Hurlstone Park noted the differences between the heavy rail and the metro."I live in Floss St & we are being tortured by the volume of the chimes & announcements from the Metro," she wrote.Mother Sophie Kelly said she joined after wondering how other people were feeling."I felt like I was the only one complaining to them … I have a baby and the sound is torture every day and night."Sydney Metro says they are aware of the noise complaints. (ABC News: Julia Andre)Members have been urged to contact the NSW Environment Protection Authority, with those who have already raised the matter reporting that it "was not helpful at all".A spokesperson for Sydney Metro said they were aware of the noise issues and technicians were "assessing sound levels along the line"."The volume of train announcements must comply with a range of standards and requirements, including those relating to emergency purposes and being intelligible for passengers," they said."We will continue working closely with the operator regarding implementing any potential adjustments while ensuring we still meet safety and operational requirements."This Saturday and Sunday, services are scheduled to run every seven minutes to accommodate people wanting to "check out" the new line.