Should train noise be nerfed?

[Fart_Gas]

The train station and cargo train terminal both have a noise pollution level of 115. In comparison, the airport has a noise pollution level of 150 (https://skylines.paradoxwikis.com/Transportation#Default_buildings).
In real life, airport noise has much, much wider and more severe impact than train noise. In addition, the train lines in Cities:Skylines are shown as electric - rail electrification in real life is often done because electric trains are much quieter (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_electrification_system). Of course trains aren't silent, but if they are to justify 115 noise, then perhaps they need to be redesigned as non-electric, diesel-powered trains.
I live in Sydney, Australia, and almost all passenger trains here are electric and thus not too loud - this means that the train stations can be in residential areas - in Cities:Skylines, passenger train stations are ideally located outside residential areas because of the noise they produce. The trains here aren't always quiet - but this noise is only caused by diesel-powered trains, and when electric trains honk their horns at level crossings (which are uncommon in Sydney). In addition, walls surrround the rail tracks in the areas where rail traffic is heaviest so that nearby residents are not too affected by the noise.

So perhaps the high noise levels can be retained for the cargo train terminal, and perhaps also at level crossings - but I think the noise pollution should be nerfed at least for the train station. And they should probably introduce an extra type of rail track with walls to reduce noise.

[-=ToX=-]

That actually is an issue, cause other types of public transportation half less noisy, and that make trains more uncomfortable to use than monorail or metro. And also wierd that cable cars are same noisy as monorail :D

[kristofburger]

Originally posted by -=ToX=-:

That actually is an issue, cause other types of public transportation half less noisy, and that make trains more uncomfortable to use than monorail or metro. And also wierd that cable cars are same noisy as monorail :D

Either your memory is failing you or you're using custom assets, because monorail stations have a noise value of 115, same as train stations (which is even more ridiculous). Cable car stops are much quieter.

[onezerorising]

Nerfing the noise a bit would be nice, or only active when trains are in the station. I think an additional and perhaps preferable solution would be to make for trees to work as noise-radius reducers. Currently only the tree-lined roads do that and not by much.

[Fart_Gas]

Originally posted by onezerorising:

Nerfing the noise a bit would be nice, or only active when trains are in the station. I think an additional and perhaps preferable solution would be to make for trees to work as noise-radius reducers. Currently only the tree-lined roads do that and not by much.

That's what I was thinking. Why not have a more expensive variety of rail tracks with noise barriers like these: http://www.noiseandhealth.org/articles/2017/19/87/images/NoiseHealth_2017_19_87_51_204622_f3.jpg

[ArcticPuffin02]

i live next to a railroad track (not even the station) can confirm... it is loud

[Fart_Gas]

Originally posted by ArcticPuffin02:

i live next to a railroad track (not even the station) can confirm... it is loud

May I ask where? Are the trains diesel, steam or electric?
Also, don't you think the noise impact from trains is far more limited than that of airports? You may find it loud being next to the tracks, but people who live 10+ km from the airport often complain of aircraft noise.

[ArcticPuffin02]

Originally posted by Fart_Gas:

Originally posted by ArcticPuffin02:

i live next to a railroad track (not even the station) can confirm... it is loud

May I ask where? Are the trains diesel, steam or electric?
Also, don't you think the noise impact from trains is far more limited than that of airports? You may find it loud being next to the tracks, but people who live 10+ km from the airport often complain of aircraft noise.

yea airport is louder but you can definatly tell when the 3:00 AM train is going by

[scpool1986]

We have the option for sound barriers on highways so why not rail lines? The area I live in is less than 200 feet from an interstate highway with traffic all the time and it only registers 115db at the highest. Why not have sound barriers on rail lines?

[ArcticPuffin02]

Originally posted by scpool1986:

We have the option for sound barriers on highways so why not rail lines? The area I live in is less than 200 feet from an interstate highway with traffic all the time and it only registers 115db at the highest. Why not have sound barriers on rail lines?

this sounds like a gread idea! somone make a mod!

[kristofburger]

Originally posted by Fart_Gas:

May I ask where? Are the trains diesel, steam or electric?

You seem to underestimate noise levels of electric rail, I live 260 meters from a track and I can clearly hear any train that's going by.

[scpool1986]

Originally posted by ristosal:

Originally posted by Fart_Gas:

May I ask where? Are the trains diesel, steam or electric?

You seem to underestimate noise levels of electric rail, I live 260 meters from a track and I can clearly hear any train that's going by.

The key part of rail noise is not just the engine/motor but also the wheels, brakes, and weight of the cars. I’ve heard all electric trains in Sydney (out by Parramatta) be just as loud as a diesel train here in the US. When it comes to noise levels there’s too many variables to address with a mod on the vehicles but could possibly be addressed with high enough sound barriers along the lines.

[ArcticPuffin02]

Originally posted by scpool1986:

We have the option for sound barriers on highways so why not rail lines? The area I live in is less than 200 feet from an interstate highway with traffic all the time and it only registers 115db at the highest. Why not have sound barriers on rail lines?

Concidering 120 is permanent hearing loss thats not ideal

[scpool1986]

Originally posted by ArcticPuffin02:

Originally posted by scpool1986:

We have the option for sound barriers on highways so why not rail lines? The area I live in is less than 200 feet from an interstate highway with traffic all the time and it only registers 115db at the highest. Why not have sound barriers on rail lines?

Concidering 120 is permanent hearing loss thats not ideal

I guess I should have mentioned that it was an app on my phone that puts my TV at 135db so it’s not really that reliable. I’m going to see if anyone I know has an actual calibrated meter for sound.

[Fart_Gas]

Originally posted by scpool1986:

Originally posted by ristosal:

You seem to underestimate noise levels of electric rail, I live 260 meters from a track and I can clearly hear any train that's going by.

The key part of rail noise is not just the engine/motor but also the wheels, brakes, and weight of the cars. I’ve heard all electric trains in Sydney (out by Parramatta) be just as loud as a diesel train here in the US. When it comes to noise levels there’s too many variables to address with a mod on the vehicles but could possibly be addressed with high enough sound barriers along the lines.

Parramatta is noisy because of the design of the rail bridges there which inherently makes the trains louder (especially when they brake). And the non-electrified rail lines in Australia have diesel trains which are even louder because these diesel trains can be more than 1.2 km long: http://www.traveller.com.au/the-ghan-set-to-become-australias-longest-passenger-train-gp42y5. Still, even these diesel trains wouldn't cause noise headaches 10km away like an airport would.
So if they don't nerf the train noise, they should probably increase the airport noise. I really don't see why they shouldn't give us the option of more expensive train lines with noise barriers like these: http://www.noiseandhealth.org/articles/2017/19/87/images/NoiseHealth_2017_19_87_51_204622_f3.jpg.

[scpool1986]

Very true that the area of impact should be larger for the airport compared to the train stations as well as true about the crossings. I don’t remember any rattling at the station at the intersection terminal or at central but Parramatta seemed to always have something rattling. Then again International is underground and the parts of central I remember were concrete floors on solid ground. I’ve lived in the landing path of an airport with the end of the runway being about 12 miles (around 19km) and at times they would be low enough to rattle the apartment. Enough of those close enough together would induce a headache.