Sydney's Southwest Metro hit by noise complaints on day two: residents say station chimes sound every four minutes until 1 a.m.

Sydney's Southwest Metro has been open for just a day, and noise complaints are already in focus. The line, which opened on October 30 between Sydenham and Bankstown, completes the final section of the M1 line, bringing it to 66 kilometres; the first service left Bankstown on time at 4:31 a.m., and more than 18,000 trips had been taken at the 10 new stations by 10 a.m. But on the second day, residents living near the stations told media the platform chimes and announcements are too loud.

Residents: chimes every four minutes, until 1 a.m.

ABC News reported that Bill Kandiliotis, who lives about 500 metres from Hurlstone Park station, said the old T3 train line was never this loud, while the metro's chimes now sound every four minutes and continue until 1 a.m., audible inside his home — a situation he described as a mental health issue. Other residents have set up a Metro Noise Reduction Group on social media, with one writing that the chimes and announcements from the station are tormenting households along the line. The report also noted complaints about station lighting and security cameras, but the chimes remain the main grievance.

Operator: chimes are needed for safety and accessibility

Operator Metro Trains Sydney responded that station announcements and sounds are required for safety and operational reasons; accessibility is central to platform and carriage design, including flashing lights and loud chimes to warn passengers when doors are opening and closing. Sydney Metro says it is aware of the noise complaints. Notably, the report added that residents had already raised the loud announcements during the testing period, so the issue did not begin on opening day.

Weekend arrangement: pink buses stay as backup, then go

For passengers, one practical arrangement matters: the pink replacement buses that served the corridor for the past two years keep running as a backup over the opening weekend before being withdrawn, which should ease congestion on local roads. Southwest Metro trains run every four minutes in weekday peak periods, every five minutes between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and every 10 minutes in the evenings and on weekends. How the noise issue is handled — lower volumes, shorter announcement hours, or no change — is the operator's first test after opening.