Traffic noise analysis in railway station zones

The interim railway noise modelling method RMR, recommended by Directive 2002/49/EC, was developed with the aim of creating strategic noise maps for all major railways, as well as for tracks in urban areas, and harmonizing the parameters for noise level evaluation. Studies conducted in several European countries have shown that the interim method does not meet local conditions of these countries, and that noise levels determined by this method differ from noise levels obtained by field measurements. Traffic noise modelling in the vicinity of Ivanić Grad Railway Station, located near Croatia's capital Zagreb, is described in this paper. Noise levels were determined by means of the RMR interim method, recommended by Directive, and Schall 03, German national method that is still widely used in Croatian noise protection practice. Furthermore, two different scenarios were considered so as to determine the impact of railway vehicle dynamics on noise levels. Vehicle acceleration and deceleration segments were defined in detail in the first scenario, while changes in vehicle moving speeds were neglected in the second scenario. Research results have shown that the noise levels determined by the RMR interim method are lower than those obtained by field measurements, and that the Schall 03 noise modelling method presents more accurate results, which points to the pressing need to develop a national railway noise modelling method in Croatia. Previous noise analyses, conducted on other railway stations in Croatia, have also pointed to this problem.