The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy Mayor of London 105
is higher. Ideally, vehicle skirts and low, close barriers should be designed
together, though this is difficult on existing or multi-user railways.
Railway barriers need to have absorptive inner surfaces or have surfaces at
an angle to the vertical in order to avoid multiple reflection of sound
between the barrier and the side of the train.
Box 36: Solar power from noise barriers
A recent study of renewable energy potential in London 3 drew attention
to the potential for generating electricity from photovoltaics (PV)
integrated into noise barriers along suitable railway lines in London, as
well as major roads (see paragraph 4A.29).
4B.17 Railway noise barrier installation has been difficult to achieve in the UK.
However, they have been introduced in some London Boroughs, Kent and
Surrey to reduce noise from intensified freight traffic as a result of the
opening of the Channel Tunnel. They have also been used on the
Docklands Light Railway and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. Such barriers
need to be designed to appropriate standards 4 and well maintained. Very
high costs have typically been quoted for any works on railway
operational land. The need to improve railway security against trespass
and vandalism may provide opportunities, such as screening at ventilation
ducts for underground sections. Purpose-designed combined noise
barriers and secure boundary fences may be cost-effective.
policy 21
The Mayor will urge the Strategic Rail Authority and the rail industry, and
will expect Transport for London, taking particular account of vandalism,
visual amenity, historic building and conservation issues to:
■ Examine the scope for promoting the safe and cost-effective use of
railway noise barriers, where source-related measures would not be
effective;
■ Consider securing noise benefits from routine renewal or improvement
of boundary walls/security fencing, including at ventilation ducts, and
in refurbishment of structures, notably bridges;
■ Investigate the potential for noise barrier-integrated photovoltaic
power generation along suitable railway lines.
Spatial planning and urban design
4B.18 The need for more housing and other space in London provides
opportunities to improve soundscapes by well-designed development
alongside, and in some cases over, railways. Adequate isolation of such
new buildings from railway generated noise and vibration needs, of
course, to be achieved. Suitably self-protecting continuous or nearcontinuous
development alongside railways can screen amenity spaces
and buildings further from the railway and non noise-sensitive buildings