On 5 May 2025, the UIC ACORD project held an online meeting with its 14 project participants to review the progress, share updates, and reinforce collaboration among UIC members. This joint effort supports the railway sector’s drive to reduce rolling noise by advancing rail roughness assessment and onboard acoustic monitoring. UIC’s ACORD initiative continues to bridge expertise between acoustic engineers and track specialists, promoting knowledge sharing, and supporting the shift toward more efficient and sustainable railway operations.

Highlights from the meeting:

• Development of harmonised acoustic indicators: In collaboration with the Scientific and Technical Centre for Building (CSTB), a call for data has been launched to support the development of a harmonised indicator reflecting the acoustic quality of rail roughness following reprofiling. Using auralisation – a physics-based audio simulation – the project aims to identify roughness characteristics that influence rolling noise and perceived annoyance. The UIC ACORD Project invites external partners to contribute measured or synthesised rail and wheel roughness data captured before and after reprofiling operations.

• On board measurement solutions and users’ perspectives: In collaboration with VIBRATEC, ACORD is also consolidating current knowledge on onboard measurement systems, laying the groundwork for guidelines that reflect both the technical capabilities of and user needs in noise monitoring.

• Collaboration with the ERJU Quieter Rail Project: Under Work Package 2 (WP2), the group explored synergies with the EU-financed Quieter Rail Project, ensuring alignment between ACORD’s user-driven perspective and ongoing technical developments. The recent UIC Railway Noise Days also provided a valuable platform for discussions on onboard roughness measurements and rail grinding.

UIC extends its thanks to all of the participants and looks forward to taking the next steps in this important initiative. UIC members with an interest in the noise-related aspects of rail grinding, reprofiling, or onboard measurement systems are warmly invited to join the project and contribute to its joint efforts.

Next meeting: 4 June 2025 in Prague.