The transportation revolution is in full swing, and noise protection in railway transport plays a key role. After all, who would want an eight-meter-high noise barrier right outside their door? However, innovative developments are emerging in noise protection directly at the source—on the track itself.
For three years, measurements, welding, and tinkering took place in the laboratory of Schrey & Veit. Ten engineers, one big task: to dampen rail noise directly at the track, including on high-speed lines. Classic inventor spirit permeates such laboratories. What exactly is behind these innovations, and why are they so important?
But let’s start at the beginning: Schrey & Veit is a traditional German medium-sized company. For over 25 years, the company has been dealing with the big question of how to effectively reduce noise—preferably directly at the source. The key to this, it quickly became clear, lies in the vibrations that cause noise and must be reduced.
Noise Reduction at the Source
The engineers developed rail dampers (officially called rail web dampers) that are attached directly to the web and foot of the rail. These dampers reduce the vibrations caused by the contact between wheels and rails.
By dampening the noise at the source, the resulting noise is significantly reduced. This technology is remarkably simple, yet particularly effective, and represents an important improvement in noise protection.
Ideally, the rail dampers make tall noise barriers unnecessary; or in some cases, these barriers can be significantly lower (down to 1.5 meters) thanks to the additional dampers. The dampers operate within a frequency range of 400 to 6000 Hz.
In particularly scenic areas, they are almost the only acceptable alternative for noise protection, preventing the landscape from being marred by walls.
Schrey & Veit is now one of the world market leaders in this field. More than 2000 kilometres of track have already been installed worldwide, including in Australia. The dampers come in several models and can be installed on any rail size worldwide. They require no maintenance, are not glued, and are fireproof and heat-resistant—an increasingly important feature in times of climate change.
Constantly New Ideas
But the ingenious engineers are also active in other areas. Wheel absorbers, for example, use the same principle and ensure efficient noise reduction directly at the wheels. These systems are made of special materials that absorb sound waves and thus reduce noise emissions.
There are even special dampers for bridges, which reduce vibrations and noise when trains pass over them. This technology is particularly important because steel bridges, in particular, are often critical points for noise pollution.
Avoiding Protests and Lawsuits
Why are continuous inventions and innovations in noise protection so crucial for the transportation revolution? Because they directly help make rail transport more attractive. Only if people are brought along and the burdens on them—both acoustically and visually (keyword “noise barrier at the garden gate”)—are kept to a minimum will the transportation revolution succeed.
Only then will CO2 emissions be permanently reduced, and only then will there be support for a new, climate-friendly mobility. Efficient noise reduction directly supports the shift of traffic from roads to railways, which in turn protects the environment.
Effective noise protection can minimise conflicts and delays caused by residents’ protests and legal disputes. Modern noise protection technologies help avoid such conflicts and allow projects to be implemented quickly.
With technologies like high-performance dampers, companies are setting new standards. This is a crucial step in achieving climate goals and ensuring sustainable mobility. Technological innovation and environmentally friendly solutions go hand in hand—a promising outlook for the future of rail transport.
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