In short:
Locals near the new Southwest Metro stations are concerned the "distressing" constant notices and loud alarm sounds can be heard from inside their homes.
asserted
notices → hear → homes
One resident says his complaints have been ignored and is calling on the NSW government to "turn the chimes down".
What's next?
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What → say → chimes
A spokesperson for Sydney Metro says they are across the community's concerns and that "technicians are assessing sound levels along the line".
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technicians → say → line
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.
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residents → celebrate → 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.
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which → board → city
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.
uncertain
Bankstown → use → data
It was estimated that by 6pm, there would be more than 37,000 users.
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It → estimate → pm
Bill Kandiliotis lives 500 metres away from the Hurlstone Park metro stop.
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Kandiliotis → live → 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.
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which → tell → 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."
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nothing → hear → moment
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.
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doors → include → passengers
Station announcements and sounds, according to Metro Trains Sydney, are also required for safety and operational reasons.
uncertain
announcements → accord → reasons
Southwest Metro marked the completion of the M1 line which stretched 66 kilometres through the CBD to the north-west.
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which → mark → west
Services run every four minutes during weekday peak periods and every 10 minutes in the evenings and on weekends.
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Services → run → weekends
Chimes 'ring through homes'
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Chimes → re → homes
Mr Kandiliotis welcomed the faster journey times and connectivity, but felt the chimes were "unnecessary" and showed a "disregard for local residents".
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chimes → welcome → 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".
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complaints → come → chimes
"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.
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which → be → them
[I'm] not only distressed, just angry as well that nobody cares about normal people that are affected.
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that → care → people
"
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.
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Coorey → vote → Radio
Scott also lives about 80m away from the stop, and said he could hear announcements through closed windows.
uncertain
he → live → 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.
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he → notice → it
"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."
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I → hear → them
Other locals have taken to social media to share their concerns via the recently created Metro Noise Reduction Group.
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locals → take → Group
Michele van der Sander from Hurlstone Park noted the differences between the heavy rail and the metro.
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Sander → note → rail
"I live in Floss St & we are being tortured by the volume of the chimes & announcements from the Metro," she wrote.
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she → live → Metro
Mother Sophie Kelly said she joined after wondering how other people were feeling.
"I felt like I was the only one complaining to them …
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I → say → them
I have a baby and the sound is torture every day and night."
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sound → have → baby
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".
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it → urge → matter
A spokesperson for Sydney Metro said they were aware of the noise issues and technicians were "assessing sound levels along the line".
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technicians → say → 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.
"
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they → comply → passengers
We will continue working closely with the operator regarding implementing any potential adjustments while ensuring we still meet safety and operational requirements.
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we → continue → requirements
"
This Saturday and Sunday, services are scheduled to run every seven minutes to accommodate people wanting to "check out" the new line.
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services → schedule → line
The Aporia