In-Service Performance and Costs of Methods to Control Urban Rail System Noise [Final Report]

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Centerhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15269611979PDFTech ReportSaurenman, Hugh J.Shipley, Robert L.Wilson, George PaulWilson, Ihrig & AssociatesDeLeuw Cather & Co.United States. Department of Transportation. Research and Special Programs Administration. John A. Volpe National Transportation System CenterUnited States. Department of Transportation. Urban Mass Transportation Administration. Office of Technology Development and DeploymentUnited States. Department of Transportation. Urban Mass Transportation Administration. Office of Rail and Construction TechnologyUnited States. Department of Transportation. Urban Mass Transportation AdministrationPennsylvaniaAcoustic measuring instrumentsAcousticsAnalysisCar wheels (Railroads)CostsEconomic analysisEnvironmental impactsGrindingLathesMachiningNoiseNoise controlRailroad tracksRailroadsRapid transitSound levelUrban transportationWheelsDOT-TSC-UMTA-79-43;UMTA-MA-06-0099-80-1This study evaluates the acoustic and economic effectiveness of five methods of controlling wheel/rail noise and vibration on urban rail transit systems, namely: rail grinding, wheel truing, resilient wheels, ring-damped wheels, and welded vs. jointed rail. The noise reduction methods were tested under revenue operation conditions on the Market-Frankford Line of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority rail transit system. In addition to the evaluation of these noise control methods, the study included an economic analysis of the long and short term costs of the control methods if implemented on typical U.S. urban rail systems. Life-cycle cost equations were developed for the control methods. This report summarizes noise, vibration, and cost results and compares the measurement results with similar studies.138