Why are trains at Zurich Stadelhofen so loud?

As any resident of Zurich will tell you, if you are on your way home from work, school or a night out and find yourself waiting for your train at Stadelhofen, you’ll have to endure the deafening whine and screech of rails and locomotives. Now, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has explained why trains at Stadi are particularly loud, and what is being done to soften the noise.

Stadelhofen: Zurich's noisiest station

For the 80.000 people who use Zurich Stadelhofen daily, waiting on the platforms involves having to endure the screeching of trains as they arrive and depart. The noise is particularly bad during rush hour and public events, when longer and older trains are used on the line.

Given the high quality of the Swiss public transport network, the fact that the station is such a hive of screeching noise raises some eyebrows - such noises are largely unheard of in other city stations. Now, in a statement given to the Tages-Anzeiger, SBB has explained the cause of the noise.

What makes Stadi so loud?

The main problem with Zurich Stadelhofen lies in the design of the platforms. Because the trains stop at the station while on a curve, the engines and carriages begin to rub against the side of the iron tracks as they arrive and depart. This creates a noise described by SBB as “like a violin bow.” The station is also enclosed on three sides by concrete walls and tunnels, further amplifying the noise. 

SBB has known about the problem for decades and has taken several steps to try and reduce the noise. Since 2007, the tracks at Stadelhofen have been lubricated constantly, which has reduced but not eliminated the noise.

Sadly, despite the upcoming upgrades to the station, SBB cannot get rid of the noise completely, with a spokesperson telling the Tages-Anzeiger that “a fundamental change from the current situation is not to be expected." Nevertheless, it’s hoped that the noise will die down more as older S-Bahn trains are replaced in favour of newer models.