ISTITUTO SPERIMENTALE DIREZIONE TECNICA 1/ November 2005 Reducing high speed train noise: a challenge and an opportunity for Europe Pasquale Scarano Head of Unit “Environment and Land” Istituto Sperimentale, Direzione Tecnica, RFI S.p.A. Pasquale Scarano Head of Unit “Environment and Land” Istituto Sperimentale, Direzione Tecnica, RFI S.p.A.

ISTITUTO SPERIMENTALE DIREZIONE TECNICA 2/ November 2005 The need for an European high speed (HS) train network The need for an European high speed (HS) train network RESOLUTION 876 of Parliamentary Assembly 7 May 1987 (7th Sitting) RESOLUTION 876 of Parliamentary Assembly 7 May 1987 (7th Sitting) Why?Why? 1.would bring peoples closer together and promote European unity 2.would create the conditions for the establishment of a large integrated market in Europe 3.…. 1.would bring peoples closer together and promote European unity 2.would create the conditions for the establishment of a large integrated market in Europe 3.…. And above of all the development of a European network would provide a comfortable, rapid, economical and environmentally inoffensive means of transport between the larger European cities

ISTITUTO SPERIMENTALE DIREZIONE TECNICA 3/ November 2005 Noise sources as function of train speed and rolling noise generation mechanisms Noise sources as function of train speed and rolling noise generation mechanisms Total sound level Rolling stock contribution Infrastructurecontribution Roughness Roughness of wheel-rail surfaces Rolling stock noise radiation Infrastructure Vibrations of the components Aerodynamic noise Aerodynamic noise Traction noise Traction noise Rolling noise Rolling noise Total noise Total noise LdB(A)LdB(A) 10 dB(A) v (km/h)

ISTITUTO SPERIMENTALE DIREZIONE TECNICA 4/ November 2005 Minimal rolling noise Reducing HS train noise smooth wheels and smooth rails smooth wheels and smooth rails disc brakes and maintenance of disc brakes and maintenance of tracks and wheels tracks and wheels disc brakes and maintenance of disc brakes and maintenance of tracks and wheels tracks and wheels optimized track and wheels design optimized track and wheels design wheel dampers and rail dampers wheel dampers and rail dampers wheel or bogie shrouds wheel or bogie shrouds Minimal aerodynamic noise streamlined design of the trains streamlined design of the trains (head of train; no cavities and/or (head of train; no cavities and/or extruding parts) extruding parts) streamlined design of the trains streamlined design of the trains (head of train; no cavities and/or (head of train; no cavities and/or extruding parts) extruding parts) streamlined cover of boogies streamlined cover of boogies and pantograph and pantograph streamlined cover of boogies streamlined cover of boogies and pantograph and pantograph avoiding as much as possible avoiding as much as possible air turbulence and vortices air turbulence and vortices avoiding as much as possible avoiding as much as possible air turbulence and vortices air turbulence and vortices At the source In the propagation path Noise barriers Noise barriers

ISTITUTO SPERIMENTALE DIREZIONE TECNICA 5/ November 2005 Some examples Wheel with surface irregularities irregularities Corrugated rail Model for optimizing wheel design Model for optimizing wheel design Application of dampers on a well smoothed wheel Application of dampers on a well smoothed wheel Bogie shielding Noise barriers

ISTITUTO SPERIMENTALE DIREZIONE TECNICA 6/ November 2005 Noise emission limits set by TSI for HS trains Noise emission limits set by TSI for HS trains to ensure high speed trains can run freely across the European network to ensure high speed trains can run freely across the European network Interoperability of the trans-European high speed rail system (Council Directive 96/48/EC - 23 July 1996) Interoperability of the trans-European high speed rail system (Council Directive 96/48/EC - 23 July 1996) Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) adopted in May 2002 fix noise levels in high speed service Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) adopted in May 2002 fix noise levels in high speed service Speed (km/h) Limits [dB(A)] Measurements conditions: d = 25 m from the axis of the track, h = 3.5 m above the rail level, constant speed, configuration for normal service (according to prEN ISO 3095) Measurements conditions: d = 25 m from the axis of the track, h = 3.5 m above the rail level, constant speed, configuration for normal service (according to prEN ISO 3095)

ISTITUTO SPERIMENTALE DIREZIONE TECNICA 7/ November 2005 ConclusionsConclusions Q: Is the European HS train network environmentally compatible? A: The following table Modes of transport CO 2 emissions NO x emissions (acid rain) Greenhouse effect (contribution) Energy consumption HS train/car HS train/airplane < 4.5 < 7.4 < 9.1 < 10.3 < 5.1 < 7.8 < 4.7 < 6.6 Source: TAV Q: And noise problem? TSI limits are already a worth target. Technical measures at the noise sources could reduce levels from 2 to 4 dB(A) and more. It needs to solve some problems of design, cost, maintenance, safety and regularity of service. Acoustic barriers are the last solution TSI limits are already a worth target. Technical measures at the noise sources could reduce levels from 2 to 4 dB(A) and more. It needs to solve some problems of design, cost, maintenance, safety and regularity of service. Acoustic barriers are the last solution A:A: Environmental cost per passenger/kilometre