Rail noise across three states in Australia—Operational noise assessment on Inland Rail

Abstract

Inland Rail Project is a proposed 1700 km freight rail line connecting Melbourne and Brisbane via three States in Australia–Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. Operational rail noise assessment is undertaken differently across these States in Australia. The assessment generally considers the existing and future noise exposure across day and night, along with single pass-by maximum levels. However, the assessment durations and statistical means of assessing single events differ across the States. The key acoustic criteria relevant to operational noise assessments and how they differ across the project footprint are discussed in this paper. Specifically, the effect of application of various criteria in the project context are discussed, along with statistical analysis of train pass-by noise data sets. A Monte-Carlo based methodology is proposed for estimating Single Event Maximum, a criterion for assessing single rail-noise events in Queensland. The methodology is discussed in the context of field data and greenfield scenarios where the method may be beneficial for acoustic consultants. The effects of inclusion of noise sources such as train horns and crossing bells are also briefly discussed. Finally, a proposed methodology for a consistent assessment of rail noise on such nationally spread projects is discussed.