Dublin residents are to go to court tomorrow in a bid to force Iarnród Éireann to restrict freight operations in a depot beside their homes which they claim are keeping them awake at night.
East Wall and North Wall residents are bringing a complaint to the Dublin District Court under Section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 which is usually used to resolve disputes over barking dogs and loud, late-night music.
Residents argue their sleep and quality of life has been seriously disturbed since Iarnród Éireann moved some freight operations from Spencer Dock around two years ago.
They are expected to produce a logbook in court with details of the times and dates the noise has allegedly disturbed them.
Mr Joe Mooney, chairman of the East Wall Residents' Association, told The Irish Times yesterday the level of noise from the rail yard was "unbearable". The gable wall of his house in Merchants Square backs onto the yard.
There was always a small operation there but since the proposed development of Spencer Dock it has become a 24-hour operation, he said.
"We have trains going through at 2, 4 and 6.30 a.m. in the morning. We have shunting beside the houses, revving engines or even sometimes the engines are just sitting there with a constant drone."
He added: "If you're in the bedroom and there's a train you wouldn't hear the television or the radio. And if you're standing talking to someone outside the house you wouldn't be able to hear them."
Mr Mooney said residents had complained to Iarnród Éireann but to no avail.
A spokesman for Iarnród Éireann said the company had to continue its freight operations following the hand-over by CIÉ of land at Spencer Dock for development. The company is replacing the track at the depot and is also looking at the possibility of installing new brake blocks on the trains to minimise noise, he added.
However, the spokesman said, Iarnród Éireann plans to expand its freight business on lines "across the country", and people should be prepared for this.