ÖBB Annual Report 2023

127 Group Management Report Österreichische Bundesbahnen-Holding Aktiengesellschaft Consolidated Financial Statements | Group Management Report 82 Highlights 2023 Strategic noise mapping Rolling wheels generate sound due to physical laws which cannot be overridden. ÖBB is, however, making every effort to contain and reduce noise emissions from rail traffic. As part of the European strategic noise mapping, the Austria-wide noise maps required every five years were submitted as planned (see www.laerminfo.at – Noise maps / rail transport). The uniform Europe-wide calculation method was used for the first time. The action plans, which are to be submitted to the European Commission by 2024, will be drawn up in the coming year on the basis of the strategic noise mapping in accordance with Article 8 of the EU Environmental Noise Directive and its national implementation. Effective protective measures Noise barriers and soundproof windows are erected and subsidised in the course of noise remediation on existing lines. Noise protection measures are taken into account and implemented from the outset for new and upgraded lines. As a result, in 2023 there were 1,036 km of noise barriers and noise protection dams on 4,935 km of track in the ÖBB- Infrastruktur AG network. An additional 11 km of noise barriers were therefore erected in the 2023 reporting year. Postbus: Further promotion of low-emission buses. 2,478 buses of the lower-emission norm classes Euro 5 / EEV and Euro 6 will be in the fleet of Österreichische Postbus Aktiengesellschaft at the end of 2023. That is 33 more than at the end of 2022. An environmentally friendly driving style is required to reduce conventional air pollutants and noise emissions. All Postbus drivers are trained to drive the buses as efficiently as possible. A poster campaign was rolled out at the service centres in 2023 to raise awareness of the fuel-saving traffic light. Alternative drive systems not only cause fewer conventional air pollutants, they are also quieter in operation, which is another reason why the aim is to accelerate the changeover. Compliance with applicable technical norms and standards for the new acquisition of combustion vehicles such as buses is the essential basic prerequisite for reducing or limiting, for example, classic air pollutants (NO 2 , NO X ) in traffic. Outlook for 2024 The future of quiet tracks Future topics for reducing noise emissions from the railway are being developed as part of research projects at ÖBB- Infrastruktur AG: These concern both the systematic and long-term testing of superstructure components as well as surveys on the mutual dependencies between vehicle and track in terms of noise technology. Furthermore, longer-term noise forecasts are being developed. They take into account future developments such as traffic forecasts (cf. VPÖ 2040+) and transport policy plans (cf. Mobility Masterplan 2030). Heating oil phase-out Implementation of further conversions for the phase-out of oil-fired heating systems by 2030, see Chapter G.1. Other significant measures Emissions (excl. CO 2 ) (excerpt) Decrease in noise emissions on the Wörthersee railway line | Regular measurement reports show a continuous reduction in noise emissions from the railway on Lake Wörthersee, underlining the effectiveness of the measures that are being taken on an ongoing basis. MR82 |