Management approach and noise reduction 
target

Further reducing the impacts of rail traffic noise on local residents is an essential prerequisite for a shift in the mode of transport towards rail.

We are therefore continuing to work with the Federal Government on implementing our noise reduction target. We want to relieve more than 800,000 affected residents from rail traffic noise by 2030. That is more than half of all residents who currently live along lines affected by rail traffic noise. By 2050, we want to have alleviated rail traffic noise for all affected residents.

We implement our targets as well as the requirements and laws on noise reduction in Germany with our directives and work instructions for the implementation of projects and noise remediation measures including public participation. The determination of the affected areas and the planning as well as the implementation of our noise remediation measures are carried out mathematically in noise reports in accordance with emissions protection legislation. Our stakeholder communication on the respective projects informs and involves those affected as part of planning law procedures, such as in discussion meetings on new and expansion projects, at public events on noise remediation projects or with an advisory council such as in the highly affected Middle Rhine Valley, where we are in regular exchange with politicians and society.

To achieve our targets, we are relying on our two-pillar strategy: implementing measures on the infrastructure on the one hand and on the vehicles on the other.

Noise reduction on the infrastructure

Since 1999, when the voluntary noise remediation program for existing Federal rail lines was launched, we have been working with the Federal Government to modernize our highly affected existing rail tracks. This is based on the overall concept for noise remediation, in which the sections of track to be remediated in accordance with the funding guideline are listed according to the degree of need for remediation. The overall concept and the funding guideline are regularly ­updated by the Federal Government.

With noise remediation measures on the infrastructure, we are providing residents with lasting and noticeable relief from rail traffic noise. Specifically, we are reducing noise for local residents through stationary noise remediation measures such as the construction of noise barriers along the line No. 25 (active measures), fitting apartments with soundproof windows No. 101 or sound-absorbing ventilators (passive measures). Sections of the overall noise remediation concept are considered to be noise-remediated if they have been restored to the threshold value in accordance with the noise remediation funding guidelines following an emissions protection assessment of the noise report and the implementation of active and/or passive measures.

Our targets for the noise remediation program of the Federal Government are as follows:

• By the end of 2030, we want to remediate rail traffic noise from half of all existing lines affected – i.e. 3,250 kilometers of lines – through noise remediation measures on the infrastructure.
• By 2050, we will have completed the noise remediation program and thus alleviate rail traffic noise for all residents living near existing lines affected by rail traffic noise.

A prerequisite for achieving these targets is the adequate provision of funds for local noise remediation measures by the Federal Government in the noise reduction item of the Federal budget.

Noise reduction on vehicles

DB Cargo’s freight wagons in Germany have already been completely converted to quiet brakes No. 5 since 2020. The EBA was able to successfully prove the noise reduction through the whisper brake with its 19 nationwide monitoring stations. The results are available on the EBA’s noise monitoring page. We achieved our target of having DB Cargo’s electric main line locomotives in Germany operating with quiet braking systems by 2025 ahead of schedule in 2024. We are also pursuing further measures:

• By 2030, we want to phase out the older DB Cargo series 232 and 233 diesel locomotives with noisy gray cast iron block brakes. The class 77 series, making up less than 2% of the operational performance of DB Cargo (based on weight-related ton kilometers; Ltkm), will be the only locomotives still using gray cast iron block brakes.
• DB Long-Distance plans to replace all diesel shunting ­locomotives with quieter and more climate-friendly hybrid shunting locomotives No. 44. Therefore, noise reduction simultaneously contributes to climate protection targets. The hybrid shunting locomotives are expected to be ­delivered by 2028 due to supply bottlenecks.