Background:
Rail has
good environmental credentials but noise remains a significant
environmental weakness. It is the dominant cause of community
concern and pollution complaint for existing rail networks, forcing
rail agencies to take a reactive approach to noise management, with
over-reliance on costly and unsightly noise barriers, significantly
undermining efficiency and public image. It is also the primary
cause of community concern and trigger for mitigation treatments
for rail expansion projects.
Objective:
The
project aims to improve industry productivity by streamlining the
way noise issues are managed, improve effectiveness and reduce
construction and maintenance costs, deliver environmental benefits
to the community and the economy, and build the existing rail noise
research infrastructure into a viable group.
Project scope:
The
project is concerned with applying developed theory to the
practicalities of rail noise management on Australian rail
networks.
The
project comprises two components:
- The first
component addresses the widely recognised “hot spot”
issue for existing networks of curve noise (i.e. wheel squeal and
flanging noise).
- The
second component addresses the broader issue of noise source
control (to facilitate less reliance on expensive, and often
ineffective, noise barriers).
The
project covers infrastructure, rolling stock and operational
management, given that all of these aspects affect operational
noise outcomes.
Benefits:
The broad benefits of the project are:
- Substantially improved understanding of curve noise mechanisms
and solutions.
- A shift towards management of the underlying causes of noise,
rather than the outcomes, leading to a substantial improvement in
cost effectiveness and competitiveness for the rail sector.
- To provide a strong basis for demonstrating best practice in
rail noise management, leading to improved efficiency and an
improved competitive position with respect to other modes.
- Reduced risk of noise being a hindrance to rail expansion and
growth, hence allowing wider economic and climate change
benefits.
Expected outcomes:
- A
systematic methodology for identifying the causes of curving noise,
integrating information from existing systems.
- A
microphone based device and procedure for discriminating noise
sources.
- Analysis
and reporting procedures for rail noise including a methodology for
establishment of costs and benefits for the treatment of noise
sources.
Project timeframe:
July 2008
– June 2010
Project Chair:
Dave
Anderson, Principal Environmental Specialist (Noise), RailCorp
Project Leader:
Name:
Richard Dwight, Senior Lecturer, University of Wollongong
Tel: 02
4221 3183
Email:
radwight@uow.edu.au
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