Integrated track design for reduced noise effects

Research Project, 2023 – 2025

Noise and vibration exposure induced by railway traffic can cause stress, sleep disturbance, or reduced cognitive performance. The consequences are severe health effects, which are a clear challenge when extending the rail capacity in Europe. This limits the possibility of shifting towards a greener, more climate-friendly transport mode. Therefore, this project focuses on railway track design as one of the most cost-efficient measures to reduce rolling and impact noise (e.g., from switches and crossings). To reach this goal, an integrated approach is needed that considers the partly conflicting demands concerning the mechanical and acoustical performance of track and the complex human response to rolling and impact noise. The overarching goal of the project is to find recommendations for track design for reduced noise effects considering mechanical load constraints. The developed novel methodology for perception-based track design aims at reducing the noise impact on people, while at the same time maintaining or improving long-term performance (longer life and improved reliability), safety, and life cycle costs. In this way, it will help to overcome public resistance to the building of new railway lines needed to shift to a fossil-free transport system. Besides the overall benefit for people living close to railway lines, the results will be of benefit for infrastructure managers in terms of reduced costs for building new lines (e.g., reduced costs for secondary noise control measures such as noise screens) as well as possibly for maintenance (e.g., regular grinding and tamping). It will also benefit train operators since the maintenance effort for rolling stock might be reduced.