RAILWAY NOISE AND VIBRATION: EFFECTS AND CRITERIA

This paper reviews some of the effects and criteria regarding disturbance from noise and vibration, principally from rail traffic. The observations are related for the most part to studies performed by OBERMEYER. Noise is one of the most important sources of environmental annoyance or disturbance, with noise from rail traffic being rated, in terms of disturbance, only after noise from road traffic, aircraft, industry and neighbours. With increasing noise level, the annoyance apparently increases linearly, and theLeqis a useful descriptor to assess noise impact. A number of studies have shown that rail traffic noise is less disturbing than road traffic noise at the same average level. This paper considers the problems of setting limit values for railway noise and the practical application of regulation and ordinances. In addition to noise from railways, appreciable vibration which can cause nuisance is often felt in the vicinity of railway lines. A filed study carried out by OBERMEYER on the effect of vibration from rail traffic showed that many people are seriously disturbed in their homes by vibration from rail traffic. It was, however, shown that reactions to vibration at the same level of vibration load vary widely; that annoyance from vibration is less than that from noise; and that the statistical relationship between the degree of annoyance from vibration and the vibration intensity not clear. Some further issues relating to noise and vibration from rail traffic are also discussed.