While rail operations offer numerous environmental benefits, they are also linked to certain negative impacts, including noise. After road and air traffic, railways are the third largest source of noise in Switzerland. In addition, the construction and maintenance of railway infrastructure also generate noise, though only for limited periods. 

SBB has a responsibility to shield affected individuals from excessive noise as much as possible. Measures are implemented in accordance with the legal framework. As part of a comprehensive noise reduction initiative by the Confederation, more than 80% of the people affected by railway noise in 2000 have already been protected. This involved, among other measures, the construction of noise barriers, the modification of rolling stock and the banning of particularly noisy freight wagons from the Swiss rail network. To protect those who are still affected by excessive noise, SBB is working intensively to find proportionate solutions.

Reducing noise from the fleet.

Whenever possible, SBB tackles noise directly at its source. With the support of the Confederation, noise reduction work has been carried out on all passenger coaches and freight wagons, i.e. they have been equipped with K brake blocks made from composite materials. SBB Cargo has also procured numerous new low-noise freight wagons, meaning that almost the entire fleet is now quieter. However, foreign freight wagons have also been in operation on the key transit routes. In cooperation with the International Union of Railways (UIC), SBB has actively promoted the upgrading of foreign freight wagons. A ban on noisy freight wagons has been in force on the Swiss rail network since 2020. This made it possible to significantly reduce freight traffic emissions, particularly at night.

Noise protection along railway lines. 

As part of the redevelopment contract from the Confederation, SBB has installed noise barriers and implemented other measures to protect residents from railway noise. The total length of these walls (including noise barriers) on the SBB network is now over 400 kilometres. Today, SBB is considered to have achieved reduced noise as per the Noise Abatement Ordinance, which is authoritative for SBB. This means that additional noise protection measures along the existing infrastructure need only be considered if, for example an additional track, more trains or other changes to the infrastructure result in a considerable increase in noise. SBB’s environmental and noise specialists will assess this in each case during the building authorisation procedure, on the basis of the requirements of federal law. As part of the permit process, this assessment will be reviewed by bodies such as the environmental authorities of the Confederation and the cantons concerned.

Further information on the Confederation noise abatement programme
Link opens in new window.Federal Office of Transport FOT Planning approval procedureLink opens in new window.