Rail Freight Noise

The Trust has made the following submission regarding rail freight noise. 

Draft Rail Infrastructure Noise Guideline

The Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust has been active for fifty years, and currently has a membership in excess of 600, mainly residents of Beecroft and Cheltenham.  The Trust has been discussing local rail noise problems for a very long time, and has had numerous meetings with senior Federal and State ministers to discuss the issue. 

We are usually fobbed off with the explanation that the old noisy and polluting locomotives currently pulling freight through our city are not covered by existing environmental regulations.

That same position used to be taken about aircraft noise near airports, and about trucks and other road vehicles on city streets.  However regulations have been progressively imposed banning such aircraft and vehicles where they cause excessive distress to the civil population.

The Trust has drawn up a long list of issues relating to the proposed Northern Rail Freight Corridor, of which rail noise is a dominant, but not the only, component.  One factor that would remove most of these concerns is the proposal to put the freight trains in a tunnel under the existing passenger tracks passing through our suburbs.  We have been told that this is not possible with diesel locomotives due to exhaust and fire concerns.

The solution to all these problems seems remarkably obvious, and akin to the relative success achieved over the last few decades with airport and vehicle noise. 

Regulation is needed to ban these noisy and polluting diesel locomotives from use in populated areas.

If that were done, the rail companies would be forced to use modern non-polluting silent and energy-efficient electric locomotives for the steep grades through our suburb.  They could switch to diesel for the long haul level country rail links to the north.  A tunnel could then be used for the freight trains, and almost all of our residents' concerns would be assuaged.

It must also be noted that Beecroft and Cheltenham are a listed Heritage area, which should be taken into account before implementing a plan that will demolish a children’s play area and remove hundreds of trees as well as inflicting excessive rail freight noise over a wide area.

The Office of Environment and Heritage should impose appropriate noise limits on all locomotives operating in built up areas, rather than committing to a plan which threatens serious long term disruption damage and pollution to Sydney’s environment.

AGM Guest Speaker - Rail Freight Corridor Project

There were complaints after the AGM about the way questions on the RFC were limited.  Those people should refer to the original post, of 7 March, where we stressed that the speaker would not be able to talk on issues of existing rolling stock, existing noise and pollution, or weed control in the corridor, as these are all state rail matters.  It was disappointing that some members of the audience got quite aggressive when the speaker tried to stick to his remit, and the Committee tried to enforce the agreement that had been reached with the RFC about what questions would be allowed.
We have thanked the RFC for their offer to give this presentation and so make our members aware of the likely evolution of the project.  We hope that their reception at this meeting will not disuade them from such open communications in the future.
The Committee intends to have another Open Meeting, like the one held last October in which development issues including the Beecroft Shopping Village were discussed.  This next meeting will propbably be in July or August of this year, and we hope to make the RFC a significant element of that meeting, unless other even bigger issues have arisen by then.

2012 Annual General Meeting

The Meeting took place yesterday, approximately 60 people attended, the proposed changes to the constitution were passed, and the ten nominations for committee were elected.
A most valuable presentation by the Northern Rail Corridor project explained in some detail present intentions for the Beecroft and Cheltenham stations, car parking, platform access etc.  More information will be posted on this blog soon, but in the meantime anyone who wants to find out more can contact the secretary, Peter Hewitt, 0417 215 774.

Northern Sydney Freight Corridor Requirements

The Department of Planning & Infrastructure has issued his requirements of the third line project.

http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=5132

The rail project will give a short talk about the impact of the project on Beecroft and Cheltenham at start of the BCCT AGM Monday 26 March 7:30pm Cheltenham Rec Club.

M2 Guest Speakers at the BCCT AGM Confirmed

We have arranged for a short talk by the Northern Rail Freight Corridor project, starting at 7:30pm immediately before the AGM gets under way.
The M2 Upgrade Project also offered to give a short talk.  Last year they were kept until after the AGM, 11pm, which was a bit rude.  This year we will halt the AGM for twenty minutes at around 9pm to give the M2 Upgrade Project team a fair go at a fair time.  The Project have agreed to this, and ask for questions in advance of topics that people would like covered.

AGM Guest Speaker - Rail Freight Corridor Project

At the BCCT AGM, the Project Manager and members of the team for the Epping – Thornleigh section of the 3rd rail track will give a 15 minute talk and presentation on how the Rail Freight Corridor will affect the Cheltenham Beecroft Pennant hills sector of the track, what will happen to Cheltenham and Beecroft stations, the parking, playgrounds etc, design features, and noise issues with the new line.

They will then answer questions, but please understand that they are not able to talk on issues of existing rolling stock, existing noise and pollution, or weed control in the corridor, as these are all state rail matters.
We are advised that the team will comprise the Executive Program Director, Project Manager, and members of the Public Affairs and Planning teams, a most impressive line up.

Rail Freight Corridor and the AGM

A representative from Transport NSW will speak at the AGM on 26 March (date still provisional) to explain intentions for the third rail track through Cheltenham and Beecroft!

Northern Sydney Freight Corridor website

_{Something about the third rail line between Epping and Pennant Hills can be found at their website:}

_{http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/Projects-Northern-Sydney-Freight-Corridor-Program}

The website contains some of the answers to the Trust's questions, saying specfically

upgrade to Cheltenham station to include new pedestrian footbridge, stairs, three new lifts, platform modifications and new commuter car park (retaining existing numbers of parking spaces).  

modifications to the roof and retaining walls of the pedestrian underpass at Beecroft Station.

new car park at Beecroft Station (retaining existing numbers of parking spaces) and modifications to existing footpath.

construction of a new bridge crossing the M2 Motorway.

a new lift, stairs and extending Pennant Hills station concourse, as well as modifications to existing footpath, roadway and the footbridge south of the station.

Nothing said about improved access to Beecroft station for aged and disabled, hopefully that will be included in the final plans.

Regarding timescale, the website says work will start during 2012 and be complete by 2016.

Northern Sydney Freight Corridor

The following was received from Transport of NSW in response to an enquiry:

Thank you for your email regarding the Northern Sydney Freight Corridor (NSFC) Program.

The NSFC Program is a jointly funded initiative, supported by both the Australian and NSW governments, to improve the capacity and reliability for freight trains on the Main North Line between North Strathfield and Broadmeadow, Newcastle. A scoping study has been carried out which has identified four projects in this stage of the program.

The program involves the construction of:

o        a rail underpass at North Strathfield

o        a third track between Epping and Thornleigh

o        new passing loops near Gosford

o        a holding loop at Hexham.

Transport for NSW is responsible for the delivery of the projects at North Strathfield, Epping to Thornleigh and Gosford.  Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is responsible for the delivery of the Hexham project.

Environmental assessments are currently being prepared which will provide information on all environmental factors associated with the construction and operation of the projects within the NSFC Program, including noise and visual impacts and mitigation options. To ensure the projects benefit from local input, the environmental assessments will be publicly displayed for members of the community to review and provide comment later this year.

In our correspondence with you dated 9 September 2011, we let you know you would be able to talk to the project team once design has further progressed and environmental impact assessments had been completed as part of the public exhibition process.

Public exhibition dates have not been confirmed yet. Once this is finalised we will contact you about the community information sessions. The information sessions will provide an opportunity to talk to key members of the NSFC project team, who will be on hand to answer any questions you my have on the program.

For enquires regarding the existing rail corridor and railway line or to report a problem please contact RailCorp directly through the RailGreenline on

1300 656 999 or the Transport Information Line on 131 500

Up-to-date information is also available on the Projects page of the Transport for NSW website (www.transport.nsw.gov.au). 

If you require further information can also call the Project Infoline on 1800 684 490.  

Kind regards

Kelly Potts
Public Affairs Officer | Transport Construction Authority
Transport for NSW

The Trust's View on the Northern Freight Line

Upgrading the Northern Rail line to accommodate additional freight capacity is based on a short term view which fails to take into account the development of significant distribution hubs along Sydney’s western orbital ring road.  It also fails to realise the development and employment potential that could be generated by a new freight rail connection traversing the western boundary from Campbelltown through to Windsor and onto the Hunter Valley and northern NSW.

The missed opportunity to open up the transport dead end at Windsor removes the potential to develop integrated commercial and industrial employment zones at Schofields, Riverstone and Windsor, and relegates those communities to longer and longer commute times to find employment.

The upgrading of the Northern Rail Line simply perpetuates the 'Destination Sydney' myth peddled by Government transport planners, and places increased pressure on an already stressed line.

2012 Annual General Meeting

The 2012 AGM of the Trust will be held in the Cheltenham Recreation Club on Monday 26 March.  We intend to have presentations on the Northern Rail Freight Line project (the third track being laid between Epping and Pennant Hills), and how this will affect 2119 residents.
Nominations for places on the Committee are invited, contact the secretary on secretary@2119.org.au.
Felicity Findlay is not standing this year so we definitely need more nominations for Committee members from Cheltenham.
2012 memberships are being taken, if you make your payment by EFT please send the treasurer a note or email (treasurer@2119.org.au) giving your address, and contact details.