Reduction of railway noise at source - practical and cost effective methods for different track forms

Farrington, D., Benton, D. and Jones, C.J.C. (2004) Reduction of railway noise at source - practical and cost effective methods for different track forms. Proceedings of Switch to Delft 2004: International Railway Conference on Switches and Crossings, Delft, The Netherlands. 16 - 18 Mar 2004. 19 pp .

Abstract

Excessive noise is one of the main public criticisms of rail transport in Europe and this has an impact on the potential for growth of rail. This is not necessarily the main obstacle to a modal shift from road and air transport to rail transport, but it is important that it is tackled head on. The European Commission, through its environmental agencies, is establishing a framework of legislative instruments, which, once implemented and effective, will assist in reducing the level of noise and the public’s perception. The development of practical solutions for achieving target noise reductions is progressing and some of the newer technologies are beginning to be exploited. These will need wider adoption if the desired noise reductions are to be achieved over reasonable timescales. Considerable progress has been made in enabling the economically viable implementation of the measures.
The reduction of noise from railway sources has been the subject of significant research over the last decade and more. This paper examines the practical application of some of the options and describes their potential impact on track environmental design.
The basic principles of the different approaches to noise reduction are explained to provide an appreciation of what is possible. The detail varies according to the particular track-form being evaluated, ranging from old conventional tracks requiring retrofitting to new build on slab tracks. The paper examines measured and predicted values of noise reduction with differing approaches taking into account the different track structures’ dynamic response.
Additional criteria for evaluating noise reduction measures are discussed, such as the impact on the railway from both an environmental and safety point of view.
It is often found that noise issues have a local character, which requires a sensitive appreciation of the local issues and population. The paper attempts to give guidance on a range of possible scenarios for which different combinations of measures are useful.
The implementation of the measures discussed would significantly contribute to the aim of the environmental policy of the EU to reduce substantially the number of people affected by long-term average levels of noise.

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