Abstract

Since 2013, the road authority Rijkswaterstaat (Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management) and the rail authority ProRail, make a yearly calculation of the noise produced by road and rail traffic. As an independent party, RIVM tests these calculations by using measurements, as is its statutory duty under the Environmental Management Act.

The 2022 Noise Monitor compares the noise levels measured along motorways and railways in 2021 to the calculated noise levels for that year. Along main railways lines the measured noise level in 2021was on average 0.5 dB above the calculated noise level. For motorways this was 2.7 dB. This significant difference has been noted for years. As a consequence, the rules for calculating noise from motorways have been adjusted to align more with the actual noise levels. The principal adjustment is the abolishment of the long-standing deduction for quiet tyres. These tyres have a less significant contribution to the decrease in noise levels than expected. These new calculation rules will apply under the new Environment and Planning Act, which will come into effect on 1 January 2024.

Locally, the differences between the measured and calculated noise levels along motorways and railways can be much bigger. In the case of motorways this is mainly due to the age and condition of the asphalt. The noise level for older asphalt is higher than that for newer asphalt. For the main railway lines the principal causes are the number and types of trains and the wear of the rails.

The 2022 Noise Monitor also includes the measurement results for 2022. The calculations for that year will be available by 1 October. They will be compared to the measured noise levels in the next Noise Monitor. The 2023 Noise Monitor will be published in 2024.