In Switzerland, around 33 000 people are affected by railway noise exceeding the limit values, especially at night. To date, a comprehensive federal improvement programme has protected around 200,000 affected people. The programme includes installing noise barriers, converting rolling stock and prohibiting use of particularly loud freight wagons on the Swiss rail network.
Night-time freight traffic is the main cause of noise problems from the railway. To date, the federal government has spent CHF 1.5 billion on improving the Swiss railway network and has implemented a range of effective noise abatement measures:
Conversion of Swiss rolling stock to low-noise braking technology
Construction of 280 kilometres of noise barriers
Installation of 70,000 soundproof windows in over 400 communes
Introduction of emission limit values for all freight wagons in the Swiss standard-gauge network from 2020
Stipulation of rail quality requirements
Financing of targeted research into noise reduction in infrastructure and rolling stock
Investment ait for the purchase of particularly low-noise freight wagons
Virtually all Swiss railway carriages were converted to low-noise braking technology between 2000 and 2015. This primarily involved replacing cast iron brake blocks with alternatives made of composite materials (e.g. K-blocks or LL-blocks). These modern brake blocks ensure a smoother wheel rolling surface, reducing noise significantly.
Noise barriers prevent sound from propagating directly from the emission source to the reception point (e.g. a residential building). The higher a noise barrier extends above the sight line between the noise source and the reception point, the more effective it is.
In addition to their measurable acoustic impact, noise barriers have a further effect: surveys show that people who live behind a noise barrier tend to feel less disturbed than those who do not, even if they are experiencing the same noise levels.
Soundproof windows use several mechanisms to reduce noise by dampening the sound. Glass layers of different thicknesses, special films or gas-filled spaces between the panes refract, absorb and reduce the energy of sound waves before they reach the interior.
The introduction of strict emission limit values for all freight wagons in the Swiss standard-gauge network from 2020 guarantees that only freight wagons equipped with low-noise technologies, such as composite brake blocks or disc brakes, are used in Switzerland. These technologies ensure a smoother wheel rolling surface, reducing noise significantly.
The purpose of rail quality requirements is to reduce noise by ensuring a smoother rail surface. Well-maintained rails with minimal roughness reduce the vibrations caused by contact with the wheels, reducing driving noise.
The Railway Noise Research Programme finances research projects into limiting emissions measures on railway vehicles and infrastructure. These projects include field trials for testing, adapting and approving low-noise technologies for railways, and they are supported by various working groups at the Federal Office of Transport (FOT), as well as experts from public authorities, railway companies and the scientific community.
Mit einer Investitionshilfe wird die Beschaffung von besonders lärmarmen Güterwagen durch den Bund unterstützt. Als besonders lärmarme Güterwagen gelten dabei Produkte, bei denen die für die Lärmerzeugung wesentlichen Einflussgrössen optimiert sind. Im Vordergrund steht dabei die Förderung von Drehgestellen mit Scheibenbremsen.
These noise abatement measures have enabled the federal government to protect more than 80% of people who were affected by excessive railway noise in 2000. This equates to around 200,000 people. No solution has yet been found for the remaining 20% of those affected. New solutions are constantly being sought through funding for targeted research into noise reduction in infrastructure and rolling stock, as well as through investment aids from the federal government. The research results are published on the following website (only in german):
Further information
Last modification 10.11.2023
