Noise & Vibrations – 27 January 2016
Rail operations influence the direct surroundings in many ways. An increasing number of people live near railway lines and noise and vibrations are aspects that (may) directly lead to complaints from citizens. Which measures are being and must be taken as stipulated by European and national regulations? Should the solution for noise and vibration reduction be found in adjustment of the direct surroundings or at the source? → View Conference Programme
A number of infrastructure managers (consider to) apply noise differentiated track access charges. What are experiences in this area and are investments in silent trains feasible? What are conclusions and recommendations of the extensive research to reduce ground borne vibrations from railway traffic?
Technical developments
Technical developments offer great opportunities for noise reduction and sound management. There are different track maintenance treatments that have proven to be very successful but solutions can also be found in braking systems and wheel sets. In this session, the latest developments and experiences with new techniques will be discussed.
This session will address various vibration reduction methods for ground borne vibrations caused by railway operations and maintenance activities. The intensity of vibrations is greatly influenced by train (type and condition), speed, track (type and condition), soil conditions and even the direct surroundings. Therefore a wide range of solutions is available, greatly depending on the specific characteristics of the railway line.
Conference Programme: Noise & Vibrations
Chairman of the day: Hans Günther Kersten, Director Freight – UIC
Session 1: ‘Rail and its direct surroundings – experiences and best practices’
Franck Poisson, Deputy Manager Physics of the Railway System Department – SNCF
Environmental noise of the railway system: a new challenge for the future
Read abstract
Micha Köpfli, CEO – N-Sphere AG
sonRAIL Webtool: a new approach to railway noise emission calculation
Read abstract
Rick Scholte, Managing Director and Founder – Sorama
From sound vision to sound design in railway systems
Read abstract
Session 2: ‘Rail and its direct surroundings – experiences and best practices’ (continued)
Peter Tschada, Dipl. – Ing Architekt – Orange Architekten
& Anna Weber, Dipl. – Ing Architekt – Orange Architekten
C-Shell noise attenuation for railway tracks
Read abstract- Christian Noël, Founder – CARE-TRACK
Pad influence on noise and ground vibrations
Read abstract - Hoessein Alkisaei, Honours Program Delft University of Technology
A monolithic solution to the problem of noise
Read abstract
Session 3: ‘Sound management by material choice’
- Pascal Fodiman, Deputy Director Interoperability & Standardisation – SNCF-Railway System General Management
Which maintenance strategies for a sustainable noise performance of the railway system? An analysis of the French case
Read abstract 
David Benton, Product Marketing Manager Rail Sector – Tata Steel
Targeted noise reduction using rail dampers
Read abstract
Session 4: ‘Vibration reduction methods’
Pedro Alves Costa, Assistant Professor – University of Porto
Prediction and mitigation of railway vibrations. Potentialities and challenges of numerical modelling
Read abstract- Hielke Zandberg, Specialist Noise and Vibrations – ProRail
Process of assessing nuisance due to railway vibrations
Read abstract - Hans van Leeuwen, Managing Director – DGMR Consulting for construction, industry, traffic, environment and software
Monitoring noise & vibration and asset management
Read abstract
RailTech Expert Series Paris:
- View Conference Programme Day 1: Wheel/Rail Interface & Switches
- View Conference Programme Day 3: Railways & Environment
- See full list of the expert speakers