الفهرس 
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Abstract
The study describes a planning methodology proposed for calculating the noise levels from railways in a certain area and the prediction of possible attenuation of acoustic noise in the case of adapting different abatement measures. The suggested method includes six steps: (a) collecting data about the land use in the study area, the structure of the railway track and its operating conditions, (b) measuring the noise level at different points in the study area to calibrate standard semi-empirical equations and relationships that can be used for noise calculations, (c) calculating the noise levels at a reference point using the standard equations calibrated with field measurements, (d) computing and accumulating the noise emissions emitted from the running trains along the railway corridors, (e) preparing and analyzing different noise abatement measures and scenarios (combination of measures), and (f) evaluating the different abatement scenarios to achieve recommended noise levels. The study includes also the technical specification of the different noise countermeasures and investigates the effects of these specification in the noise reduction. An interactive computer program is then developed in the framework of this study to facilitate the entering of the input data, the calculation procedures, the generation, and the modification of the abatement scenarios. The proposed methodology is examined by being applied to the Abou-Kir railway line in Alexandria. as a case study. The goal of the application is to test the capability, usefulness and practicability of the proposed methodology and its supporting computer
program.
The dissertation is organized as follows:
Chapter one introduces the subject and the objectives of the study as well as the research approach.
Chapter two deals with the general environmental impacts of railways: noise, air pollution, vibration, accidents and land use. It includes also a comparison between the environment impacts of railways with those of other transportation systems.Chapter three presents the nature of sound, its characteristic, effects, and countermeasures for reducing railway noise at source or by creating acoustic barriers to attenuate its propagation
over distance.
Cbapter four illustrates a suggested methodology developed for the calculation of noise level along railway corridors, preparations and evaluation of different noise abatement measures md scenarios.
Chapter five includes an application of the proposed methodology to the Abou-Kir railway line in Alexandria. The results of the application are interpreted and discussed.
Finally, Chapter six states the major conclusions and recommendations as well as the possible extension of this research work in a follow-up study.