Linden, N.J. Residents Say Noisy Freight Trains Have Kept Them Awake For Months
LINDEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Residents of Union County, New Jersey have said they are sick and tired of being kept up at night by noisy train traffic in their neighborhood.
As CBS2's Tracee Carrasco reported, residents compared the noise made by the trains to an explosion or an earthquake. The ear-shattering, room-shaking sound of screeching metal from the passing freight trains is why the Linden, New Jersey residents said they have not gotten a good night's sleep in months.
"Being jarred out of your sleep by your house being shaken like somebody dropped a bomb in your backyard – it's terrifying," said resident Ann Marie Vasquez.
"We don't sleep," added resident Carly Bellero. "If the train comes, that's it."
And residents have had enough. They said they understand normal operating hours, but are tired of being woken up in the middle of the night by the noise and rumbling movement of the trains stopping and being linked together.
"Literally, the foundations of your house shaking from the vibrations of the cars being banged together," Vasquez said.
Residents said the noise problems have been going on since August, and happen several nights a week.
"The trains have no schedule," a resident said. "It's always different. They come anywhere between 12, 1, 4, 5 in the morning."
The trains are making deliveries to Phillips 66's Bayway Refinery, and residents said neither the refinery nor the railway company have offered any solutions for the overnight noise.
Norfolk Southern Corporation operates the trains, and said network congestion is part of the problem. In a statement, the railroad company said, "We understand the inconvenience train noise may cause residents, and we'll look into what might be done."
Phillips 66 did not respond to requests for comment.
"It seems like nobody cares," Bellero said.
Residents just want the trains to stop at night so they can finally get a good night's sleep.
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