The Low Noise Train development programme launched jointly by the Austrian, Italian and Swiss railways aims to achieve a substantial reduction in noise emissions caused by increasing freight transport. By combining a number of noise reducing construction elements, the LNT wagon reduces noise emission levels to approx. 76 - 78 dBA at a distance of 7.5 m from track centreline, 1.2 m above the upper edge of the rail and with a constant speed of 80 km/h. This corresponds to a reduction of approx. 15 dBA over current levels. The Low Noise Train prototypes were constructed in Switzerland by Ferriere Cattaneo and tested in Austria according to the European Standard (ISO 3095) taking into account the most recent measuring know-how of the STAIRRS method. Furthermore, the national noise regulations of the three partner countries were also included in the measurement setting. The Low Noise Train fulfilled by far the expected requirements considering that procurement and operation costs of the LNT wagons are similar to those of conventional wagons.
Further planned projects aimed to optimize some of the construction elements used to reduce noise and to analyse their repercussion on the rail/wheel contact system.