Factors affecting railway noise levels in residential areas

Abstract

In order to be able to estimate noise levels in residential areas it is important to understand the mode of propagation of railway noise in open ground conditions. Experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of train type and speed as well as distance from the track on measured noise levels. The presence of cuttings and embankments as well as the houses themselves also affect the noise levels. Data are presented which show the effect of all these parameters and a simple procedure is outlined that allows the maximum noise level at any position in a residential area to be estimated.