1. “Noise”
Dave Anderson, RailCorp
Industry Chair, R1.105

2. ?
• Why? • Why noise, for rail?
• What? • What research was needed?
• How? • How is it being addressed?
• Who? • Who’s doing it?
• Well? • What outcomes & benefits?
• Aaaaarrgh… • Challenges
• Mmmmmh.. • Where to from here?

3. Why should the rail industry bother with noise?
• After all:
– “the railway was here first”
– “couldn’t they see that the house they bought was
near the railway?”

4. Some harsh realities
• Some aspects of rail noise have improved
significantly, but others are INCREASING
– More services, longer trains, faster trains
– New designs (track & rolling stock)
– New infrastructure projects  impact assessment
• Community and regulator tolerance is
REDUCING
– Annoyance & complaint (particularly re “unnecessary
noise”)
– Political pressure
– Emerging evidence of health effects

5. More harsh realities!
• Direct costs to rail industry
– Time and $ in complaint management
– Delay and $ for projects
• Indirect costs to industry
– Reputation and image
• Costs to community
– Health effects

6. What research was needed?
• Numerous noise issues and challenges
– Maintenance & construction
– Horns / whistles, level crossings
– PA systems, stabling yards
– Locomotives
– Etc etc
• Not all require “research”
• Aim therefore to:
– Focus on research needs
– Align to industry priorities

7. How?
Two specific issues identified
1. Curve noise
2. Rolling noise

8. Curve noise
• High pitched, piercing noise, “squeal”
• Numerous efforts > 20yrs
• Australia at forefront of research & mitigation
• Mechanism still unexplained

9. Curve noise – audience poll
• “Normal” noise of a train at 80km/h = 85dBA
(measured at 15m)
• Curve noise (measured at 15m) often:
– Exceeds 85dBA
– Exceeds 95dBA
– Exceeds 105dBA
– Exceeds 115dBA
– Exceeds 125dBA
– Is louder than the space shuttle at take-off

10. Rolling noise

11. Rolling noise

12. Rolling noise control

13. Who?
• University of Wollongong:
– Richard Dwight
– Jiandong Jiang
– Wenxu Li • ISVR (UK):
• Queensland University: – Chris Jones
– Paul Meehan – David
– Paul Bellette Thompson
– Shijie Jiang
– ??

14. Who?
• ARTC
– Kirsten Alexander
– Craig Jones
– Nick Petticrew
• Queensland Rail
– Mark Batstone
• QR National
– Don Skerman
– Shelley Fergusson
– Alex Howie

15. Who?
• RailCorp
– Dave Anderson
– Malcolm Kerr
– Sak Kaewenruen
– Dave Parkinson
– Ian Ying
– Sav Shimada
• PN:
– Carolyne Southern, Alfonso Saez
• TCA:
– Peter Wheen

16. Emerging
• Expertise in rail noise research & expertise
• A vibrant industry network on rail noise

17. Outcomes
• Curve noise
– Detailed analysis and testing
• Quantitative data
• Statistical analysis
• Robust but portable monitoring technique
– Emerging new theory
• “coupled modes” theory
• Points the way towards better understanding &
therefore better mitigation

18. Outcomes
• Rolling noise
– Robust but portable monitoring technique
– Collaboration with ISVR (UK)
– Rolling noise software
– Alternatives to barriers!
• Rail dampers now in use
• Role of wheel & rail roughness better understood
• Other opportunities (rail pad, wheel design, etc)

20. Challenges
• Noise is a “misfit”!
– “noise department” unusual in rail
– Human element, “greenie” issue, engineering
• Different notions
– Existing rail: “squeal”!
– Rail growth: “barriers”!
• Recruiting PhD’s
• Installing monitoring equipment

21. What next?
• Curve noise
– Validate new theory
– Use monitoring system in different networks
– Test mitigation options
– “How to” manual for industry
• Rolling noise
– Calibrate software
– Test mitigation options
– “How to” manual & software for industry