Protection against noise and vibrations

Needless to say, it is not possible to completely avoid noise at a building site. However, Deutsche Bahn will do everything in its power to keep that noise to a minimum. Work on above-ground sites will only take place during the day. The use of construction plant and equipment with sound absorbers helps to reduce noise at source. Where this is not possible because of local circumstances, the residents will be entitled to protective measures in accordance with the legal requirements (e.g. sound-insulating windows).
 

Neither the tunnel construction itself nor the rail traffic afterwards will be noticeable for the residents. This is because the tunnel sites have been designed with sufficiently high overlying layers, i.e. the distance between the tunnel roof and ground surface. Above ground, special noise protection devices at either end of the tunnel and at the interim tunnel boring site in Sigmaringer Strasse will ensure that noise pollution will be kept to a minimum throughout the entire construction period.
After the Filder Tunnel goes into operation, noise protection will continue to play an important role: the portals of the Filder Tunnel have been designed so that the pressure waves which occur when a train enters the tunnel, even at top speeds of 250 km/h, are automatically dissipated.
 

In areas with only shallow overlying layers between tunnel roof and ground surface, some of the tracks will literally be laid on springs: the so-called mass-spring system effectively dampens the vibrations emanating from underground rail traffic. This method will enable sensitive machinery – as used by companies which work at Fasanenhof, which is located above the new railway line – to be protected against vibrations.
 

The German Traffic Noise Protection Regulation specifies that traffic-induced noise from new construction and upgrading projects must not exceed certain limits. These limits are dependent on factors such as the time of day and the type of area (for example, the noise must not exceed 49 decibel(A) in residential areas during the night hours between 22:00 and 6:00 h). The line layout in the plan approval section Filder Region (PFA 1.4) – i.e. the route on which Deutsche Bahn will cross the Filder region – already takes noise protection requirements into account: the tracks run as far away as possible from the neighbouring residential area. If the noise limits are nevertheless exceeded, suitable protective action will have to be taken. Deutsche Bahn AG has already conducted comprehensive noise surveys for project approval section Filder Region (PFA 1.4) along the layout of the future new-build line. To ensure that the noise immission for rail traffic is calculated on a standard basis, the legislator has prescribed a calculation method which has to include various factors which have an adverse effect on noise immission, guaranteeing that the forecast values err on the side of caution in favour of the residents.
 

Noise generation will remain within the legally prescribed limits along almost the entire line. There will therefore be no need for active noise protection, e.g. such as noise barriers, for rail traffic on the new-build line in the Filder region project approval section (PFA 1.4). The limits will be slightly exceeded only at some individual buildings on the outskirts of Köngen. Noise barriers would not provide any effective protection, as the buildings are too far away from the railway line. In such cases, Deutsche Bahn uses passive noise protective measures, such as the installation of sound-insulating windows.