Rail company CFR set to install sound- dampening panels in Bucharest and its vicinity
Romania's CFR to Install Sound-Absorbing Panels to Reduce Noise Pollution
Romania's state-owned railway company, CFR, has announced plans to install sound-absorbing panels on routes around Bucharest. The primary objective of this investment is to reduce the noise level generated by train traffic in residential areas and improve the comfort of neighboring localities.
The execution works will begin after the completion of administrative steps and the issuance of the start order. The installation of these panels is estimated to take approximately 5 months.
The project involves the installation of 800 meters of panels, with heights ranging between two and four meters. On the Bucharest Nord-Constanta railway line, panels will be installed over a distance of 300 meters, between kilometer 4+300 and kilometer 4+600. In the Chitila area, panels will be installed on Line 300 Bucharest Nord-Predeal, between kilometer 10+550 and kilometer 11+050, over a distance of approximately 500 meters.
The installation of sound-absorbing panels is intended to reduce noise pollution. These panels are generally effective in reducing noise pollution from trains by blocking, absorbing, and mitigating sound reflection in high-traffic areas. They help dissipate sound energy, thereby lowering perceived noise levels.
Materials with strong sound absorption properties convert sound energy into other energy forms, reducing noise transmission. Such acoustic solutions are widely used in industrial and traffic contexts for noise control, demonstrating their practical utility.
The implemented technical solutions are expected to result in an estimated noise reduction of approximately 10 dB(A) at the receiver level. However, direct search results detailing the quantitative or qualitative effectiveness of the CFR project in Bucharest were not found. Given the general principles and documented success of sound-absorbing panels in similar railway and traffic noise mitigation applications, it is reasonable to conclude that the CFR installation helps reduce noise pollution along those routes.
Approximately RON 11 million (EUR 2.1 million) from the state budget has been allocated for this project, with the main purpose being the reduction of noise pollution. The initiative is aimed at improving the comfort of neighboring localities.
[1] Sound-Absorbing Panels for Railway Noise Control [2] The Role of Sound-Absorbing Materials in Traffic Noise Reduction [3] Industrial Noise Control using Sound-Absorbing Panels [4] Acoustic Properties of Sound-Absorbing Materials
- In an effort to address the issue of noise pollution, Romania's CFR railway company is planning to use sound-absorbing technology in their project by installing these panels.
- Beyond railway applications, sound-absorbing materials are also instrumental in environmental-science contexts as they help mitigate noise pollution from traffic on busy roads, contributing to a cleaner environment.
