PROJECT OF THE MONTH 07/2026 | Precise Vibration Predictions as Reliable Bases for one of Poland’s Most Important Infrastructure Projects.
VCE Vienna Consulting Engineers ZT supported the construction of the new railway tunnel Łódź-Tunnel (Line LK 85) in Poland with comprehensive analyses on vibrations and structure-borne noise. The approx. 4.9 km long double-track tunnel is one of Poland’s most important railway infrastructure projects and implies high demands regarding the protection of adjacent buildings and sensitive applications.
Between January and June 2026 VCE performed a thorough vibration prediction for existing and future railway traffic on behalf of PORR BAU. The objective was an early assessment of the impacts of railway operation on the environment and the development of appropriate protective measures if required.
The analyses were based on real emission measurements of trains on the PORR slab track system, which were performed by the VCE measurement team near Krakow. Complementarily there was detailed dispersion modelling with the software Plaxis. In this process sensitive impact locations along the tunnel route were identified and the predicted loads were compared with the valid threshold values.
Where admissible values were exceeded, VCE developed appropriate mitigation measures. This included floating slab track systems, which efficiently reduce structure-borne noise and vibrations and thus improve the protection of adjoining buildings.
A special strength of the project was the comprehensive validation of the results. In addition to the vibration prediction VCE performed a complete dynamic simulation of the transmission path with SOFiSTiK – from the formation of vibrations in the tunnel to the subsoil up to the building foundations. The results of the simulation confirmed the previously determined predictions with a very high accordance.
“The combination of real measurement data, detailed numerical modelling and a continuous simulation up to the building foundations enabled an excellent prediction quality. Consequently, we could reliably assess the impacts of railway operation and verify the efficiency of the planned protective measures”, declared VCE project manager Elisabetta Pistone.
Experts from the VCE Competence Centers Acoustics, Dynamics, Building Physics, Measurement & Instrumentation, Bridge Design & Structural Analysis as well as Geotechnics & Natural Hazards were involved in the project. The interdisciplinary cooperation enabled a holistic consideration of the complex interactions between infrastructure, subsoil and buildings.
With this project VCE underlines its international expertise in the fields of vibration protection, numerical simulation and sustainable railway infrastructure and makes an important contribution to a safe and environmentally compatible development of modern traffic systems.