Mahendra Goundar with his daughter Sheetal Nikita are not happy about the noise from the new south west Sydney freight line.
NOW in its third week of operation, the Southern Sydney Freight Line has already claimed its first victims.
The Goundar family home in Casula backs on to the rail bridge, and the high decibel noise pollution has proved more than they can bare.
Mahendra Goundar, (pictured) said he and his wife felt so emotionally and mentally tortured that they were taking anti-depressants just to get through the day.
"We have campaigned for years and our pleas have fallen on deaf ears," he said.
"Various noise tests have shown that the noise produced by these freight trains far exceeds the levels permitted in residential areas according to the World Health Organisation.
"We have young children and the trains operate 24-7 keeping them up at night.
"We are already seeing drastic effects on our physical and mental health.
"The kids are fatigued and can't sleep at night and as a result are late for school.
"This has not just greatly affected our lifestyles, it is destroying our lives."
Mr Goundar said he and his neighbours campaigned to local, state and federal politicians, even taking their concerns to parliament, but each time they were dismissed.
"In 2001 we started our first petition, that's when we discovered the plans to put in the Southern Sydney Freight Line (SSFL)," he said. "The noise from the primary train line has been a problem since before the SSFL, now the problem is amplified.
"It runs constantly and emits a loud screeching sound. The whole house shakes when they go past."
RailCorp completed a noise assessment of the area in March 2011 and consulted with the community regarding noise abatement walls. In April last year, Minister for Transport, Gladys Berejiklian, re-confirmed RailCorp's investigation into the noise pollution pending community consultation, including noise barriers for the 2.1 kilometre length of study area.
Mr Mahendra said no further community consultations were held, and in a letter was advised that noise barriers would not be installed as the freight line was not a priority line.