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Go-Leise: Looking for the optimal train track for noise, vibrations and costs
The train track is a complex construction consisting of many parts. Modifications to one part (to reduce vibrations, for example) can lead to more noise nuisance, or affect the maintainability and thus maintenance costs of the track. Often only a few aspects are looked at, such as vibrations and investment costs, not the whole. We believe this can and must be done differently.
The project
Commissioned by SBB, the Swiss rail operator, we carry out the Go-Leise project together with Müller-BBM and dBVision. In Switzerland, cast iron block brakes have been banned in recent years to reduce the noise from rail traffic. But that’s not enough. The logical next step is to increase the noise reduction of the track itself. Go-Leise’s goal is to achieve this noise reduction. However, noise reduction is not Go-Leise’s only goal. We also look integrally at vibrations and at the Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) of the track, as well as Life Cycle Costs (LCC). What is the advantage of this approach?
Asset management
With this holistic approach, it is ultimately possible to include health effects in the asset management of the track. When the track is changed, it is therefore not only possible to determine what the effects are on the RAMS aspects and the costs, but also the effect on people’s health. In addition, a better estimate can be made of the costs of noise and vibration measures over the entire lifespan. In this way, the track will be better maintained and better for people’s health at the same time. This makes rail a truly sustainable transport solution.
