Feasibility of a Train Horn with Optimized Directivity: Environmental and Occupational Noise Benefit of an Ideal Train Horn

Federal Railroad Administration2022PDFTech ReportRoss, JasonJohnson, TimothyParida, BasantZaouk, BudQinetiQ North America, Inc.Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc.United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Railroad Policy and DevelopmentUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research, Development and TechnologyUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Railroad AdministrationUnited StatesAcousticsAudible warning devicesAutomobilesCrashesDetection and identificationHornsRailroad grade crossingsSound levelRolling stockRailroad safetyhighway-rail grade crossingenvironmentoccupationalacoustic hailing devicetrain hornDOT/FRA/ORD-22/32DTFR53-07-D-00003-TO18Punwani, John; Omar, TarekMarch 2, 2007\u2013November 30, 2012This report examines the feasibility of and recommends an acoustical specification for such an optimized horn. The detectability of the horn signal for motorists inside vehicles, the areas of environmental noise impact and occupational noise exposure have been compared for the optimized horn and several typical standard horn systems. It has been found that detectability could be improved and noise impact area reduced by 50 percent or more, depending on amplitude. The optimized horn must have a variable directivity pattern that dynamically changes as a function of train position relative to the crossing to provide substantial noise reduction. Current acoustic source technologies which generate directional sound are examined including \u201cacoustic hailing devices\u201d\u2014a recent technological advancement typically used for military applications, naval communication, and crowd control. Capable of focusing high amplitudes of sound within a narrow beam, acoustic hailing devices have been identified as a feasible means of meeting the required specifications. Finally, the study provides general information concerning cost and implementation of the device.140