IMPACT OF MASS RAPID TRANSIT NOISE ALONG TRACK LINES AND STATIONS

Abstract

Planning and construction of new urban railway systems have to take into consideration the various aspects of noise and vibration protection. The report summarises the knowledge of railway noise, sources of noise, propagation, the tolerated and excepted noise level of Singapore Mass Rapid Transit System as well as measures of noise controls and the effects of railway noise on human beings. It must be emphasised however, that the report can only give a range of estimated values of noise levels for Singapore MRT. The local situation of tunnel geometry soil, constructions of the train cars and adjacent buildings and background noise levels must be studied and investigated 1n detail after the whole system has been in operation. The Study, so far, concluded that MRT railway noise will definitely affect people in many of the same ways that road traffic and aircraft noises affect them. The report emphasised an area of major concern is the noise generated by normal train operations including the locomotive noise and the noise produced by the interaction of rail and wheel (rail/wheel noise). The frequency of train movement during morning & evening peaks would be at least one train per 50 seconds (bidirectional). It was estimated that the peak MRT railway noise would be much above 85 dBA for passenger trains or 93 dBA for locomotives. Furthermore, the noise generated from grinding & tamper machines which operate from midnight to 5 a.m. would be well above 93 dBA. The report excludes the study of the propagation of vibration and structure borne sound into adjacent building.