Rail Wheel Squeal – Some Causes and a Case Study of Freight-car Wheel Squeal Reduction

Rail wheel squeal on curves in rail track is a source of potential noise annoyance to residents adjacent to rail lines. For one private rail freight operator, wheel squeal was causing repeated complaints from neighbours. Wheel squeal can be caused by the wheel-tyre to rail-top interaction and the wheel flange interaction with the gauge face of the rail (more like a screech). This paper describes some of the main causes of wheel squeal and the alternative approaches taken by various rail operators to reduce the generation of wheel squeal. The approaches taken by the operator in one study to successfully reduce wheel squeal are described. The source of wheel squeal in that case was identified as being related to the steering and suspension of the bogies on the rail car. Different bogies have different suspension systems and the methods to reduce wheel squeal may differ for bogie types. Rail vehicle maintenance regimes may also need to consider wheel squeal issues to reduce the potential for noise annoyance.