Comparison of Annoyance from Railway Noise and Railway Vibration

Mikael Ögren,Michael Smith,Sara Gustavsson,Kerstin Persson Waye,Anita Gidlöf-Gunnarsson

doi:10.3390/ijerph14070805

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare vibration exposure to noise exposure from railway traffic in terms of equal annoyance, i.e., to determine when a certain noise level is equally annoying as a corresponding vibration velocity. Based on questionnaire data from the Train Vibration and Noise Effects (TVANE) research project from residential areas exposed to railway noise and vibration, the dose response relationship for annoyance was estimated. By comparing the relationships between exposure and annoyance for areas both with and without significant vibration exposure, the noise levels and vibration velocities that had an equal probability of causing annoyance was determined using logistic regression. The comparison gives a continuous mapping between vibration velocity in the ground and a corresponding noise level at the facade that are equally annoying. For equivalent noise level at the facade compared to maximum weighted vibration velocity in the ground the probability of annoyance is approximately 20% for 59 dB or 0.48 mm/s, and about 40% for 63 dB or 0.98 mm/s.

Highlights

Railway traffic is expected to increase in Europe, both for freight and passenger transport [1].Increasing railway traffic will lead to more noise and vibration exposure for those living close to railways
The Swedish Transport Administration estimated the number of people exposed to vibration along Swedish railways using an empirical calculation approach based on ground type data, distance to railway and railway traffic [2]
This paper investigates at what vibration velocity the annoyance from vibration equates to the annoyance from noise

Summary

Introduction

Railway traffic is expected to increase in Europe, both for freight and passenger transport [1].Increasing railway traffic will lead to more noise and vibration exposure for those living close to railways. Railway traffic is expected to increase in Europe, both for freight and passenger transport [1]. Perceivable vibration in buildings can be generated by railway vehicles moving along the rail. The moving load of the train together with varying stiffness and irregularities along the rail generate ground waves that interact with the building foundation. The vibrations are more prominent for soft ground types and for heavy freight trains with high axle loads. The Swedish Transport Administration estimated the number of people exposed to vibration along Swedish railways using an empirical calculation approach based on ground type data, distance to railway and railway traffic [2]. 54,000 persons are exposed to a maximum weighted velocity of 0.4 mm/s or above. The corresponding number for 1.0 mm/s is 14,000 persons

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