Cost–benefit analysis of railway electrification
are not significant (WS Atkins, 1990). Improved
streamlining of trains would reduce air-borne
vibration.
make plausible estimates of some social and environ-
mental benefits.
Noise Noise from train movements mainly arises from
the rail/wheel interface, panel vibration and train
aerodynamics, in the case of diesel locomotive en-
gines. At high speeds, noise from the rail/steel inter-
face will predominate above diesel engine noise.
There is therefore little noise advantage in the electri-
fication of a line when trains are running at high
speed. However, at lower speeds, diesel engine noise
will dominate over rail/wheel noise and there will be
localised advantage to electrification.
Notes
1. The research reported in this paper was undertaken as part of
a research project entitled Electrification of the Traction Sys-
tem of Egypt Rail conducted by Technical Consultation Bureau
on behalf of the Organisation for Energy Planning (TCB, 1999).
2. A more detailed analysis is available from the author.
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