Empa develops “cushion” for rail tracks

Empa in the canton of Zurich has developed innovative rail pads, as was reported in a press release. Through high-tech cushioning inserted between the rails and concrete sleepers, railroad noise is reduced and made more tolerable for residents living near railway tracks. 

“SBB wanted us to develop new pads that are softer,” said Empa researcher Bart Van Damme from the Acoustics/Noise Control department in Dübendorf in a video. The researcher team on behalf of the Federal Office for the Environment and the Federal Office of Transport has collaborated with the SBB on a material that dampens the particularly noise-intensive frequency range of about 500 to 2,000 hertz. It also reduces vibrations.

The researchers produced the first prototypes in collaboration with the plastics manufacturer Semperit. In March, the newly developed material was tested in practice together with SBB experts on a 100m section of track near Nottwil in the canton of Lucerne. The data has since been analyzed and, as Van Damme explains in the video, the results of the tests were very encouraging. Thanks to these results, the researchers are now optimistic that the novel components will be used in practice in the future.