Evaluation of Sound Environment in the Waiting Halls of Railway Stations

Abstract

Nowadays, the users’ evaluation of sound environment in the railway stations is focused by all kinds of experts. Comparing with other spaces, the waiting hall is usually recognized as the most important space in the railway station. In this study, more than 600 questionnaire survey has been undertaken at 4 waiting halls of railway stations in capital cities of China, to determine how the sound sources and sound pressure level influence acoustic evaluation. More details of acoustic evaluation in the waiting hall of Harbin railway station are given in this paper. Based on the analysis of the investigation results, it has been found that in the waiting halls of railway stations, PA system is generally noticeable and ‘masking’ other less preferred sound sources, while sound from mobiles is preferred by passengers. The relationship between the measured LAeq and the subjective loudness, acoustic comfort evaluation as well as subjective loudness and acoustic comfort are all of a linear shape, and the acoustic comfort is general better when LAeq is lower than 75dBA.