Characteristics of Railway Noise in Urban Area

The field test was performed to determine the major noise resources, time-domain and frequency-domain characteristics of noise along the representative sections. The test sections were a section of the main-line railway and a grade-crossing of urban area. The main-line section was the nearest to residential area and the crossing was nearer to sensitive area (schools and residential area). When the train is passing, railway noise is dominant in the two areas. The rail-wheel noise is the main noise resource in non-grade-crossing line, it is mainly in low and medium frequencies, and the A-weighted sound pressure level is above 85dB (A) without noise of locomotive whistle; the maximum value of the locomotive noise is up to 99.9 dB (A) due to acute vibration of the locomotive body. In the grade-crossing, noise is mainly from rail-wheel noise, noise of locomotive whistle and noise of warning bells, and the SPL is about 80 dB (A); The results suggest that measures should be taken to improve acoustical environment along the railway line from the following aspects: rail-wheel noise reduction, change of the communications between locomotives, and modification of warning bells characteristics or transformation from grade-crossings to interchange.