The transport of goods and passengers by rail is not always silent. To reduce noise and thereby increase acceptance of rail transport, Deutsche Bahn implements various measures to reduce railway noise. One example: since the end of 2020, the freight wagons used by DB Cargo in Germany have been equipped with low-noise brake blocks.
Freight wagons are traditionally braked using brake blocks made of cast iron. However, these brake blocks roughen the running surfaces of the wheels, which generates noise as trains pass by. By converting to so-called “whisper brakes” made of composite materials, rolling noise can be significantly reduced. The smoother the wheel and rail, the quieter the rolling noise.
European funding from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), among other sources, was granted for the conversion to quieter brake blocks.
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