New noise standards have been approved for trains traveling between 160 and 220 miles per hour, intended to support high-speed rail in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will be modernizing noise emissions standards in order to support the development of high-speed railways in the U.S. Current noise standards in the U.S. focus on engine noise and mechanical sounds, overlooking other issues, including the wind noise generated by trains traveling at speeds over 160 miles per hour.
FRA Administrator David Fink stated, “One of the reasons we don’t have true high speed rail in the United States is because current rules disadvantage trains that generate most of their noise from sources other than their engines and rolling stock instead of approaching the issue holistically. Updating this rule will remove a major obstacle railroads currently face when trying to operate high speed trains.”
The new FRA framework allows an alternative set of standards for high-speed trains that operate between 160 and 220 miles per hour. It also removes some outdated operator requirements to eliminate unnecessary and costly equipment modifications for modern trainsets. There will also be an approval pathway for trains that exceed speeds of 220 miles per hour.
The FRA stated that the traditional noise limits for speeds below 160 miles per hour will remain in place.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Administrator Fink and officials in the FRA as they evaluate noise emission standards for railroads in the U.S.
- For Secretary Duffy and Department of Transportation personnel as they review regulations for safe and efficient travel in the U.S.
Sources: Department of Transportation
