Characteristics of train noise in above-ground and underground stations with side and island platforms

Railway stations can be principally classified by their locations, i.e., above-ground or underground stations, and by their platform styles, i.e., side or island platforms. However, the effect of the architectural elements on the train noise in stations is not well understood. The aim of the present study is to determine the different acoustical characteristics of the train noise for each station style. The train noise was evaluated by (1) the A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level (L-Aeq), (2) the amplitude of the maximum peak of the interaural cross-correlation function (IACC), (3) the delay time (tau(1)) and amplitude (phi(1)) of the first maximum peak of the autocorrelation function. The IACC, tau(1) and phi(1) are related to the subjective diffuseness, pitch and pitch strength, respectively. Regarding the locations, the L-Aeq in the underground stations was 6.4 dB higher than that in the above-ground stations, and the pitch in the underground stations was higher and stronger. Regarding the platform styles, the L-Aeq on the side platforms was 3.3 dB higher than on the island platforms of the above-ground stations. For the underground stations, the L-Aeq on the island platforms was 3.3 dB higher than that on the side platforms when a train entered the station. The IACC on the island platforms of the above-ground stations was higher than that in the other stations. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.