Hi,
I just recently arrived in Zurich and I have been patiently visiting flats and searching for accommodation. I noticed that a some of them that I visited in Zurich HB to Irchel, Oerlikon and Seebach are located on the main street like in Schaffhauserstrasse, Winterthurerstrasse, Universitatstrasse and right next to a tram line.

Is this a problem in terms of noise late at night or early in the morning if you live on a 1st floor?

Thanks

I lived in Oerlikon for a while a few minutes from the Trams and trains , in Binzmuhlerstrasse. Whilst I did hear the trams at night, and the goods trains early in the morning, these did not wake me up or keep me awake. Sensitive sleepers may disagree though.

Unless you get a place in a remote area, you are going to hear trams almost everywhere you live in the city. Give it some time and you won't hear them any more even if you leave your windows open. I live on a main street where two tram lines go through. After 17 years trams sound like birds singing early morning.

you'll get used to it.

It also depends on how good your windows are.

I have the tram going right down my 2nd floor window(ok I don't live in Zürich so it's different) and I barely ever notice it.

This is pure speculation, keep in mind that some sections might be louder than others(wear of the tracks, a turn etc).
Also if you visit a place close to a tramline stick around and check what the sound level is like when a tram goes by when you're outside.

new tight window might work