Without intending any disrespect to the great composers, Sydney's CityRail believes their works played over the loudspeakers could be a major deterrent to the railways's least desirable customers.

The experiment, to run at five key stations for six weeks from September 1, comes on the heels of a successful program, using the music of Bing Crosby, at shopping centres.

A memo sent to five stations in Sydney's West tells them: ``Your station has been nominated to participate in Operation Music, where classical music will be played over the PA (public address system) to move unsavoury characters from our stations.'' Recent crime statistics for New South Wales state show station platforms are a major focus of drunken misbehaviour and crime, with assaults rising from 607 in 1995 to 1,017 lastyear.

However, rail Union officials have ridiculed the idea, describing it as a Mickey Mouse solution to a serious problem and suggesting it could have the opposite effect to the one intended.