Measures to abate railway noise in Germany more ambitious than the legal limits of the TSI noise

Environmental noise is an important issue causing one of the most common public complaints in Germany and within the EU. Noise causes health threats, like cardiovascular effects and cognitive impairment and has an enormous negative economic impact. The most important source for rail noise is freight trains that operate around the clock. The enormous ecological "Achilles' heel" of railway traffic is the noise. Especially during the nights, the noise impairment is up to 25 dB(A) above the threshold, which is to be aspired in terms of a precautious health protection of the people. Noise is of high relevance with respect to any expansion, upgrade or construction measures of railway infrastructure. Therefore, it is agreed to enlarge noise protection measures to a wide degree. There are a number of technical measures available, e.g. retrofitting of the freight wagons to alternative brake systems. Moreover, legal measures like the Technical specification for interoperability relating to the subsystem 'rolling stock' - noise TSI Noise exists. This TSI Noise constitutes general requirements for the transnational railway traffic in Europe. The presentation gives an overview on technical measures to efficiently abate railway noise in Germany more ambitious than the legal limits of the TSI Noise.