The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

100 Mayor of London
The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy
and rolling stock. However, there are now a number of developments on
railway noise within the European Union. A European Commission
Working Group on Railway Noise is drafting a European Commission
strategy on railway noise in connection with European Directive
2002/49/EC, relating to the assessment and management of
environmental noise. The European Association for Railway
Interoperability (AEIF) has produced ‘Technical Specifications for
Interoperability’ (TSIs) for the implementation of Directive 96/48/EC on
the interoperability of the trans-European high speed rail system. TSI
96/48-ST 05 specifies noise levels. For the UK, Directive 96/48/EC
applies to new-build and major upgrades to the East Coast Main Line, the
West Coast Main Line, Great Western and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
AEIF is currently producing TSIs in connection with Directive 01/16/EC
which relates to the conventional rail network (including freight). In the
UK this will affect about half the national network. Proposals for
Directives on noise and vibration and safety are anticipated. In the UK,
track quality-related contract specifications for asset maintenance or
renewals have not generally included specific noise requirements. The EC
5th Framework project, ‘STAIRRS’, has developed a classification system
for defining different vehicle and track designs, with reference to the
revised version of ISO 3095 drawn up by committee CEN/TC 256. The EU
funded project CONVURT (Control of Noise and Vibration in Underground
Railway Transport) has been led by London Underground.
Issues in controlling railway noise
4B.4 Key issues involved in railway noise management include:
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Track type and quality - including wheel-rail rolling contact
Quieter rolling stock and operation
Railway structures and noise barriers
Spatial planning and urban design
Building insulation.
It will generally be less costly and more effective for noise and vibration
control measures to be incorporated from a very early stage in
programmes and projects rather than added as remedial actions. In view
of the number of organisations involved in providing services and
infrastructure on the national rail network, references in this chapter are
generally to the Strategic Rail Authority and ‘the rail industry’ rather than
specific organisations within it.
Track type and quality - including wheel-rail rolling contact
4B.5 Optimising the design and management of the wheel-rail interface is
widely seen as the first priority technically in minimising railway noise.