There's light at the end of the tunnel for Woombye's train noise weary residents

One of the Next Generation Trains that are keeping residents awake, because of mould and mildew issues.

Residents kept awake by noisy air-conditioners on trains parked at Woombye’s stabling facility will be pleased to hear they may be sleeping tight by the end of the year.

Queensland Rail is working to return the air-conditioning levels on parked trains from “in-service mode” to the quieter “stabling mode” as soon as possible. 

A Transport and Main Roads (TMR) spokesperson said about a third of the multi-billion dollar Next Generation Rollingstock (NGR) fleet had now had their stabling mode reinstated. “This upgrade will be rolled out across the remainder of the NGR fleet throughout 2021.” 

The yard, near the Woombye station, holds trains when they are not in use. 

Trouble is, since the facility became operational last February nearby residents have complained of noise from the air-conditioners. 

QR admitted last year the units were kept running to avoid an inherent mould and odour problem, the result of a design fault in the near-new, Indian-built fleet. 

But they say air-conditioners running at in-service mode are no louder than surrounding ambient noise in the area. TMR carried out two noise monitoring surveys last year: “Both of which  indicated that noise from the stabled passenger trains (including their air conditioning systems) was not the source of excessive noise being reported by residents,” a TMR statement said.  

 “While Queensland Rail’s noise monitoring report advised that the Woombye stabling yard operations (including the NGR air-conditioning systems) have not been identified as a dominant contributor to the local noise environment at Woombye, TMR is working to return the air-conditioning levels on NGR trains to the normal stabling mode as soon as possible. 

“Upgrades are being rolled out to the air-conditioning systems on the New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) train fleet. The upgrade includes a restoration of the standard NGR stabling mode.”

Woombye residents James Kasmer and Mike Melzer, who have proved thorns in the side of TMR over the issue, said they were grateful for any progress but were not holding their breath.

Mr Kasmer said it had already taken two-thirds of the year to fix one third of the trains. “Two-thirds of the calendar year having already passed.  I remain hopeful TMR and QR keep their word on the air-conditioning fix, despite the bulk of the work is left to complete within the remainder of the 2021 year.”

He said Queensland Rail’s noise monitoring reports conducted in the second half of 2020 were red herrings.  

“These NGR Trains are extremely noisy when not stored in Stabling Mode. Noise continues unabated whether it be day or night.  This is why residents in Woombye remain focussed on a solution to ongoing noise problems from trains not stored in stabling mode.”

Mr Melzer said  TMR should have sent “a human” to experience the noise generated by the trains. 

“Friends and others who visited our properties were all amazed at the intrusive level of noise,” he said. “For TMR to insinuate we are  imagining it is offensive.”