Ground-Borne Vibrations Induced by Railway Traffic: Impact, Prediction, Mitigation and Future Perspectives

Ground-borne vibrations caused by railway traffic represent a significant environmental concern, particularly in densely populated or vibration-sensitive urban areas. These phenomena can lead to discomfort and annoyance among residents, interfere with the operation of sensitive equipment, and even threaten the integrity of heritage sites or structurally vulnerable buildings and infrastructures. Building on these concerns, this paper presents a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge on the subject. It begins by examining the impacts of ground-borne vibrations on both people and structures, followed by an overview of the regulatory frameworks implemented in different countries to manage these effects, with a focus on four examples from Europe and North America. The review then systematically explores the key factors associated with the generation and propagation of ground-borne noise and vibrations. Furthermore, prediction methodologies are categorised into four groups—analytical and semi-analytical, numerical, empirical and AI-based models—and critically assessed. Finally, the paper reviews mitigation strategies applied at the source, along the propagation path, and at the receiver, assessing their effectiveness in reducing the identified impacts.