Railway Noise Reduction at the Source only. Is this possible or mandatory?

Abstract

Climate change urges CO2 reduction also in traffic. Electrified Railways are a powerfull CO2 free and energy and space efficient traffic mode already today. Modal shift is demanded but environmental noise of railway hinder rail traffic growth significantly. Noise tunnels are not only expensive but also reduce energy efficency and increase interior noise. Noise barriers are very costly and optical obstacles. TSI-Noise values have many criticisms. They do not cover the most bothering situations, curve running and severe other critical operation conditions are missing. The noise limit values are very high. Many standard measures in all other technical fields, construction machines or road vehicles do not exist in the railway context. Even worse is the situation of the track noise. There are nearly no measures except the demand for smooth surfaces. But the noise radiation of rails and sleepers is not constant but can be reduced significantly. Even good railway practice in other countries does not push the noise reduction without legislatve demands. Exemple are quiet high speed pantographs and tamping machines in Japan. With general measures and low noise barriers and skirts on each track side the immision limt even at densly operated lines of LDEN 55 dBA is possible.