Editor:
Re: SkyTrain noise is 'excessive' in Burnaby
I have written many times and am told it is a provincial thing? If you watch rail-related shows, most focus on the following.
My suggestion for noise abatement used in other global city jurisdictions, in part, was that, from an acoustics perspective, there are three options for noise mitigation:
- mitigation at the source (i.e., the wheel/rail interface);
- mitigation at the propagation path, which often requires the use of noise barriers, which on transit systems is typically not an effective or feasible solution; or
- mitigation at the receiver (a residence, for example), which is not within the control of the transit system.
In most cases, transit agencies focus maintenance efforts on addressing rolling noise at the source — the wheel/rail interface. Along with wheel and rail roughness, track components have an effect on noise. Slab track, for example, is typically noisier than ballasted track; softer rail pads are noisier than stiffer rail pads.
And, while soft fasteners (140 kips/inch or less) may be adequate in tangent track, they allow the rail to roll and gauge to widen in curves, which can exacerbate noise-related issues.
Wheel shape and size is also a factor. Smaller wheels tend to be quieter than larger wheels. Speed, of course, is always a factor.
However, while not commonly used in North America, rail dampers are used in Europe to mitigate noise that is radiated from the rail.
Tom Fleming
📢 SOUND OFF: Are you affected by SkyTrain noise in Burnaby? What would you like to see done about it? Share your thoughts — send us a letter.
