The Minister for Transport, Gladys Berejiklian, will announce a trial of the initiative today. She says that, if successful, the quiet carriages could be extended to other long-distance commuter lines.

From Monday, the first and last carriages of all six- and eight-car trains on the Newcastle and central coast line will be quiet carriages. Only the last car of four-carriage trains will be designated a quiet zone.

As in other jurisdictions where the concept has been introduced, the carriages will be self-policed and will make use of signs and announcements to inform commuters of the low-noise policy.

The idea is that if someone is being too loud, the signs should embolden other commuters to ask them to be quiet.

"Many customers are telling us they want a noise-free environment on their train trip," Ms Berejiklian said.

"In a recent CityRail customer survey, 70 per cent of passengers said they found loud talking on trains annoying and 67 per cent found loud music disruptive."

Quiet carriages are already in use in Brisbane and on train lines in the United States and in Britain.

They have had mixed success in Brisbane: while some commuters appreciate the concept, others are frustrated by a lack of enforcement.

The MP for Gosford, Chris Holstein, said the government would seek feedback after the three-month trial.

"The success of this trial will rely on the goodwill of those in the quiet carriages and the respect they show their fellow passengers by keeping noise to a minimum," Mr Holstein said.

"The views of passengers will be sought on the effectiveness of the trial and what works and what doesn't."