Our mini noise barrier: Effective and unobtrusive
Facts
- Location: Gültstein and Unterjesingen in Tübingen-Herrenberg (Ammertal)
- Period: October to November 2022
- Client: Ammertal public transport association (Zweckverband ÖPNV)
- Products: mSW 360
- Length/quantity: Gültstein 100 m, Unterjesingen 505 m
- Conditions: S54, wooden sleepers, 240 cm concrete sleepers, various track radii
Advantages
- Only 380 mm above top of rail
- No visual obstruction for residents and passengers
- Absorbent acoustic surface 2.0
- No planning approval procedure necessary
Project description
After the reactivation of the Tübingen–Herrenberg rail line in the Ammertal region, the rail operator faced a complex challenge: because the line runs directly through residential areas, effective noise protection was essential.
The requirements were high: the solution needed to reduce noise levels effectively while remaining as discreet as possible, so as not to impact the surrounding landscape. Installation was further complicated by the existing infrastructure, which includes different sleeper types (wooden and short concrete sleepers) and significant variations in sleeper spacing, making standard solutions impractical.
Our mSW 360 proved to be the ideal solution for these specific requirements. Thanks to its low installation height, it can be mounted just outside the standard structure gauge. Installation is quick and straightforward, requiring only a few bolts to fasten it to the metal substructure, which is fixed directly to the rail. The large tolerance variations in sleeper spacing were successfully compensated using specially developed rubber bellows, allowing the construction team to complete the installation smoothly and efficiently. In addition, the option to integrate small-animal passages—either during installation or as a later retrofit—was offered and fully implemented.
The installation of the mini noise barrier was completed quickly and without any major disruption to rail operations. Both the rail operator and local residents are extremely satisfied with the solution: thanks to the mSW 360, the residential area is now pleasantly quiet, while the local landscape remains unobstructed by tall noise-protection walls.
