Railway noise and vibration mitigation: a review of technologies and applications

Railway transportation systems are essential for sustainable mobility, yet they are also noteworthy sources of noise and vibration, leading to adverse impacts on human health, structural integrity and environmental quality. This review synthesises the current state of research on strategies to mitigate noise and vibration on railways, encompassing both vehicle-based and infrastructure-based solutions. The discussion includes track modifications, rail dampers, resilient fasteners, ballast mats, floating slab tracks, train geometry optimisation and vehicle suspension design, as well as emerging materials and passive/active control methods. Special attention is given to the mechanisms of noise generation, vibration propagation and the effectiveness of mitigation measures under different operational conditions. Comparative analyses highlight the advantages, limitations and cost-effectiveness of various approaches, with emphasis on their applicability in rural, urban and high-speed rail contexts. Finally, the review identifies knowledge gaps and future research directions, including novel materials, predictive modelling and integrated system-level solutions. The findings provide a comprehensive foundation for engineers, government representatives and researchers aiming to design quieter and more vibration-resilient railway systems.