Control of the Noise Environment for Passengers in Railway Vehicles

Abstract

Modern rolling stock is significantly quieter, both internally and externally, than previous designs of carriage on British Railways (BR). However, there remains scope for improvement on future builds of vehicle in order to provide a better acoustic environment for passengers. Attention needs to be given, in particular, to the shape of the sound spectrum. This paper discusses the acoustic characteristics which influence passenger comfort and the extent to which a satisfactory acoustic environment is achievable. Sources of internal noise are identified, and the mechanisms by which the sound energy enters the passenger areas are discussed. Measures which can be taken to influence these mechanisms, preferably at the design stage, are indicated.