The people of Rosemont Avenue at Mortdale whose houses back onto the railway line are well and truly over the noise.
The high-pitched screech of the diesel engines carting coal from the south to Sydney ports has been driving them crazy for many years.
But what they're most angry about is that the state government has refused to build a noise wall to protect them — while spending money on noise barriers at Cronulla and Penshurst.
Spokesman Simon Deacon said the residents had been lobbying the government for eight years, only to be fobbed off.
"Mortdale is the main rail exchange in the St George area. It has massive loud coal trains with screeching wheels and brakes travelling past the residents' homes all day and has two rail lines so commuter trains are constant," he said.
Mr Deacon said rail authorities had measured the noise level a few years back and found it was over acceptable levels but the government refused to build a wall.
"This is despite the fact that due to acknowledged and significant rail noise a noise wall has been erected two minutes away at Penshurst.
"It should also be noted that when the state government extended the rail service to two lines at Cronulla a noise wall was erected immediately."
The affected residents wrote to Oatley MP Mark Coure in 2012 and again early this year. He replied it was something the Department of Transport should look into. When contacted by this paper for comment he vowed: "I will write to the minister and fight for these residents."
TIMELINE
February 2007: Letter to Railcorp asking for a noise wall to be built.
April 2012: Letter to Mark Coure asking for a noise wall to be built.
May 2012: Email from Mark Coure committing to more testing of the noise level (note: Railcorp had already confirmed unacceptable noise level and the need for intervention).
November 2013: Letter from Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian via Mark Coure refusing a noise wall.
January 2014: Letter from Parliamentary Secretary for Transport refusing a noise wall.
March 2015: Email to Mark Coure again asking for a noise wall to be built (no reply).
May 2015: Pressed by a journalist’s phone call, Mark Coure vows to fight for the residents.
