Network Meeting, Mannheim

06.06.2011 - 07.06.2011

The fourth network meeting was hosted by the public transport company Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH / Rhine-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (RNV) in Mannheim. RNV presented its company inter alia by means of a guided tour to green tram tracks showing different greening and track systems.

Rasenfachstelle Stuttgart, a lawn expert and a new network member, presented itself. Out of experiences from sport fields and golf courses grasses and alternative plant species for tram tracks were suggested. Furthermore they stressed the need for regular maintenance of lawn.

The evaluation of a green test track in Berlin marked this very dry spring 2011 as not representative. Moreover substrate layers below 15 cm led to temporarily browning of all grasses during such climate.

Further specifications of tram track greening were discussed and will serve as publicly available sample specimen.

The technics team discussed the question whether measurements of noise and vibration on green tram tracks and their components are needed. From the transport companies point of view this is not a superficial issue any more, as it was a few years ago. Tram tracks are greened to gain acceptance by residents particularly by means of the esthetic effect. Noise mitigation of green tracks differs from track system and construction type. In addition the conditions of rail and wheel influence the emission very much. A comprehensive acoustic comparison of the different green track systems does not exist yet.

The vegetation and substrate team conducts analysis of successful green tracks from transport companies on substrate quality and properties. The findings will be integrated in the research projects coming up and in the guideline.

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