(from left) Michael McKeon, Scott Brooks and Angus Gabara listen to local residents at the Ngaio Town Hall last week
MOVING out may not be an option, costly a costly one, for those affected by the noisy Johnsonville trains.
A local resident, Doris Heinrich, says she has neighbours who are trying to move away from the noise.
“People are moving, but they can’t sell, unless they lower their price,” says Mrs Heinrich, one of about 120 people who attended a public meeting in Ngaio last week.
“If you have an open home, they’ll hear the trains and say they can’t live with that and go,” she says.
However, Professionals and Harcourts real estate representatives spoken to by Newswire say they have no problem selling homes in the area, while Remax declined to comment.
“We have no problem selling homes around the Johnsonville line,” says Jan Smith from Professionals Tawa.
“I used to live near the trains in Khandallah and I never had any problems,” says Lou Newman from Harcourts Khandallah.
KiwiRail representatives met residents at Ngaio Town Hall to discuss to possible solutions to what has become known as wheel squeal.
Another meeting is set for late June to monitor progress on solutions.
Tranz Metro manager Scott Brooks and Michael McKeon, manager of KiwiRail’s Wellington metro upgrade covered the problems of wheel squeal and the frequent use of horns.
Some possible solutions were also discussed.
Ohariu MP Peter Dunne said the meeting was helpful to both residents and KiwiRail.
“I think probably in terms with the exchange of information and people able to say what their concern on it was helpful, but I think it’s just really started the process.”
However, Mrs Heinrich found KiwiRail’s presentation on the trains to be fit for four year olds.
“The presentation of the train on the tracks and how dangerous it is, could have been, or should have been presented to a group of four-year olds. It was that bad.
“I thought they were doing a lot of talking, but they didn’t give us a chance to listen to how it’s affecting us,” she said.
It was the first meeting since the complaints began in March last year and was organised by the Wellington Regional Council.
The meeting gave an insight to the possible causes of the screeching and solutions such as a lubricant applied to the track late last year.
At the suggestion of Wellington Regional Councillor Peter Gelensor, KiwiRail and residents agreed to hold another meeting in three months’ time.
