Noise remediation on existing railway lines of the Federal Railways

The funding initiative of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) aims to significantly reduce noise along existing federal railway lines through targeted active and passive measures. Funding is provided, among other things, for the construction of noise barriers and embankments, rail dampers, highly elastic rail fastening systems, as well as the installation of soundproof windows and ventilation systems. For this purpose, the federal government provides grants of up to 75% of the eligible construction costs, supplemented by a flat-rate funding of 18% for planning and administrative costs. A prerequisite for submitting an application to the Federal Railway Authority is the inclusion of the respective track section in the overall noise remediation concept, a positive cost-benefit ratio (CBR ≥ 1), and the absence of insolvency or enforcement proceedings. Applications can be submitted continuously without a deadline; tenants and leaseholders are excluded, while railway infrastructure companies and property owners are equally eligible for funding.

The implementation of passive noise protection measures is carried out through private law forwarding agreements between the railway infrastructure company and the property owners, who as final recipients bear the remaining 25% of the costs. Required documents include an acoustic object assessment, a forwarding agreement, a detailed cost estimate, and a project description. After successful implementation and corresponding verification by the engineering office, as well as submission of the invoice, the Federal Railway Authority forwards the grant payment. This program sustainably improves the living and residential quality in noise-affected communities and supports the commitment of municipalities and property owners to effective noise protection.