Noise & vibration


Putting the


brakes


HE crash of wagons and shriek of braking shunters working at hump yards are an inevitable inconvenience to the sensitive ears of city dwellers. Traditionally hump yards were located away from residential locations. But an increase in suburban swell in the past 20-30 years means that more and more people are living closer to these important freight terminals where noise often exceeds 130dB. There are several causes of hump yard noise. Brake noise is one and this


T IRJ June 2013


on hump yard


noise


Noise emissions from hump yard retarders are often a source of friction between the railway and its neighbours. However, as Kevin Smith reports, new technologies from Sona, Germany, and Elpa, Slovenia, have successfully reduced noise emissions at German Rail’s hump yard in Nuremberg.


varies from the sounds emitted by incoming trains, shunting locomotives and brake testing, to one of the loudest sources, braking of wagons by hump retarders. Rolling noise from wagons is another major source. The European Commission considers railway noise as a major environmental problem stating in a paper from 2005 that “there is high potential for reduction of railway noise in Europe” and subsequently enacting legislation to encourage railways to reduce noise emissions.


Barriers have been widely used as a means of reducing noise, including at hump yards where reductions of 3-7dB have been recorded, depending on the design and height of the barrier. Studies have shown that constructing an environmental sound barrier can improve sleeping conditions for residents. However, in many instances following the installation of barriers residents have complained about a loss of sunlight and restriction of views and access to their home, reduced air circulation as well as poor maintenance


43


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52