Railway noise and vibration

Environmental noise

ISVR Consulting and the Dynamics Group of the ISVR have a team of specialists with a unique understanding of noise and vibration from overground railways, underground railways and tramways.

ISVR Consulting is currently involved in the largest metro project in Greece, developing ground-borne noise and vibration predictions for a new underground line in a major city. The proposed system will be constructed during the next 6 years. The track will run in twin tunnels at a maximum depth of 28 metres. The route will follow a main road through the city and will pass a number of sensitive and historic buildings including a university, a hospital, prestigious hotels and a concert hall.

The project has involved site visits to survey the route and to carry out baseline vibration measurements. Preliminary predictions of the vibration levels in the vicinity of the route and the benefits of different track types have been carried out using the in-house prediction methods developed by Dr Chris Jones from the Dynamics Group, ISVR.

ISVR Consulting has an impressive portfolio of other high-profile projects including:

A tram in Sheffield, similar to
those in Croydon

Croydon Tramlink: Ground-borne vibration from similar vehicles in Sheffield was measured and transposed to the Croydon site, based on ground propagation measurements at Croydon. The rolling noise with different track systems was predicted by mathematical modelling and the benefits of vibration mitigation assessed.
Heathrow Terminal 5 Underground Complex: ISVR Consulting was engaged to predict the likely levels of ground-borne noise from underground trains that could occur in the new terminal building, and its satellites. Recommendations were made to reduce the potential impacts to acceptable levels.
Jubilee Line Extension, London
Crossrail, London
Lantau Crossing, Hong Kong
London Underground, Effects on ground vibration of a tunnel strengthening scheme

Internal noise and vibration

Class 66
diesel-electric
freight locomotive

ISVR Consulting also has much experience of measuring and assessing noise within trains, and has been working with Greenstreet Berman on two projects for Rail Safety and Standards Board.

The first project was the design of a set of ergonomic alarm and alert sounds for the GSM-R cab radio system for communications between drivers, signallers and others. The sounds are designed to be easily and quickly identified, to be readily heard above the noise in the driver's cab, to convey an appropriate degree of urgency, and to not conflict with or interfere with sounds from existing equipment already fitted in cabs, such as the ‘Automatic Warning System’ (AWS) and the ‘Driver Safety Device’ (DSD). The GSM-R system is currently being trialled in Scotland.

The second project concerns sound levels from warning devices in train cabs, such as the AWS and DSD. We are preparing a practical guidance document which will allow train operators or manufacturers to set sound levels of current and future warning devices in each type of cab, so that the sounds will be heard reliably, but will not be so loud as to cause annoyance or even discomfort. We have recorded and analysed the ambient noise in driver's cabs of electric passenger trains and diesel-electric freight trains to test the procedures, and these measurements will be included as example case studies within the guidance.

If you would like further information please contact:

Stuart Dyne
ISVR Consulting
University of Southampton
Highfield
Southampton, SO17 1BJ
UK

Telephone enquiries: 023 8059 2162 (+44 23 8059 2162 from outside the UK)
Fax: 023 8059 2162 (+44 23 8059 2728 from outside the UK)

Or E-mail: consultancy@isvr.co.uk