Vogiatzis C.

Athens Tram has performed during the last years an extended Noise &Vibration Study including both airborne & ground borne noise & vibration levels calculations. This study suggested the implementation of various anti noise/vibration mitigation measures. The originally performed calculations within this study for the design of the Tram networks suggested that in some urban areas the use of adequate noise screens in order to achieve both improvement of the acoustic environment and aesthetic integration of the relevant construction to the urban environment. The relevant research - in view of a successful improvement of the urban acoustic environment - revealed that a transparent screen of a max. height of approx. 1,7 metres, in a suitable distance from the external rail of the tramway, could decrease dramatically the equivalent sound levels (depending also to tram type & relevant noise emissions) for the majority of nearby residents even though the relevant noise criterion in Greece was set to 67 dB(A) for the index Leq (18hours) based on the total daily operation of the system. This highly aesthetical medium height transparent screen was then ordered and installed on October 2005 in a site area with dense urban characteristics in the front side at Glyfada Athens (Diadochou Pavlou str.). Furthermore within EU Qcity project an additional prototype of a low platform barrier of a limited height of some 32cm - suitable for installation near platforms in the network - was also tested at Tram Depot at Hellinikon- Athens by end 2005. This article presents the valuable relevant measurement results and the evaluation of the insertion loss of both screens in both alternative setups “WITH” & “WITHOUT” screen (noise barrier) with the goal to evaluate the overall noise attenuation in the view of reducing further down the noise index from tramway operation in European urban areas.