Noise pollution from railway traffic and possibilities for improvement at source.

Extensive legislation in respect of noise protection require railway managements (for instance in Switzerland) to contain and drastically reduce the noise along new and existing track systems. Intensified research at an international and a national level is to assist in realizing meaningful measures at source and in the areas surrounding railway facilities. In Switzerland it is hoped that the putting into operation of an increased quantity of new or reconditioned rolling stock will reduce the threatening cost of passive structural measures of over a billion Swiss francs. Here, too, new possibilities are sought in the construction of the rails, with sound protection shields and in more intensive maintenance.