Government strategies for the reduction of railway noise

The impairment of the population by noise is one of the major environmental problems of the railways. Recently technical solutions have been developed which allow the noise problem largely to be solved at acceptable costs. For a speedy, obligatory and efficient introduction of these solutions government regulations are needed. The most effective instrument among them is the enforcement of ambitious noise emission limits for railway vehicles. A proposal for emission limits is explained. Within this year the German government starts a noise reduction program for existing railway lines. The main features of the planned program are presented and proposals are made for noise reception limits for existing railway lines. These noise regulations have to be complemented by economic instruments such as emission-related track charges.