ELLENDALE, Del. - Some people who live in Ellendale are voicing concerns about whistles and other loud noises from trains traveling through the center of town. That concern sparked the addition of a proposed quiet train zone to the agenda at a town council meeting held Wednesday night.
The meeting gave both council members and locals a chance to share their ideas or concerns. Some people said the times when trains operate make it difficult to rest at home.
"It's just become a quality-of-life issue for me," said Merrile Mitchell of Ellendale. "And a lot of my neighbors, you know, just fed up with it."
Council members and those in attendance acknowledged the importance of trains in Ellendale and agreed they cannot be eliminated. Still, they are working toward a solution that allows trains to continue running while also letting people sleep peacefully.
"We want trains to flourish," said Sam Noto of the Ellendale Town Council. "I mean, they serve a very important function within society. So we have nothing against the railroads at all."
The council plans to share the concerns and suggestions from the meeting with the company that oversees train operations in Ellendale, aiming to find common ground between the two sides.