Railway Noise in Europe

Railways are a sustainable and climate friendly means of transport. Nonetheless, railways do influence the environment. The most important effect is noise, especially the noise emitted from freight trains. In comparison to road traffic, railway noise is less of a problem. Also, the relevance of railway noise varies from one geographic region to another. It is greatest in Western Europe and along the main freight corridors. European Union policy supports noise reduction and has addressed the issue in interoperability directives and corresponding technical specifications. The Environmental Noise Directive (END) requires member states to submit noise maps and action plans. The EU is mostly responsible for noise creation aspects, while member states may additionally enact specific legislation for noise reception. In these cases, noise reception values usually concern only new and upgraded lines; however some countries such as Italy or Switzerland also have noise reception limits for existing lines. […]