Noise remediation is carried out where noise pollution is above the legal exposure limit for the population. Examples of important noise abatement measures are the construction of noise barriers and measures to reduce rolling stock noise. This is relatively expensive, but the on-costs of excessive noise pollution are much higher than the cost of noise abatement measures (see also the indicators for the external costs of noise pollution). Noise remediation therefore makes sense for the national economy.

Between 1985 and 2012, CHF 1‘144 million were invested in rail noise abatement measures. 67% of these funds were for the construction of noise barriers and 21% for measures to reduce the noise of rolling stock. The remaining funds were used primarily for the soundproofing of buildings, such as the installation of soundproof windows. The funds invested corresponded to the plans regarding the implementation of the "Lärmsanierung der Eisenbahnen" [Railway Noise Abatement] project. For this reason, both the current state and trend are assessed as positive.

In order to guarantee the long-term success of noise abatement measures, noise emissions must be further reduced or at least kept at the current levels. At-source measures must be promoted more rigorously than before, e.g. through the development and implementation of ultra-low-noise freight trains and noise-reducing measures on the actual infrastructure.

FOT status report