Effects of urban rail noise level in a residential area

Abstract

Transport, including railways, is one of the main sources of noise, with a particularly strong negative impact on the environment, and on the health of children and adults. Train noise depends on the types of trains, track-type driving, driving speed and driving mode. Noise levels also depends on the rotation of the wheels on the track and on the short track wheel beats connections. The results of measurements showed that urban rail noise analyzed in the residential area is a serious problem, which needs addressing various organizational and technical measures. It was found that the rail transport caused equivalent and maximum noise levels of 20 m from the railway in the residential area were approximately 20 dB above the permissible noise levels. During the day, noise tests exceeded the permissible levels in nearly 80 % of all measurements. At night, the noise levels exceeded allowances on each of all noise level measurements. Statistical analysis of the results showed that the noise level is dependent on the train type and distance to the railway track.