After 14 years leading the UIC Noise and Vibration Sector, Jakob Oertli, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), will retire at the end of January 2026. Under his guidance, the sector has evolved from a technical working group into a dynamic international community promoting a “good neighbour” approach to railway noise and vibration management, balancing operational efficiency with the well-being of communities.
Today the UIC Noise and Vibration Sector brings together a global community of acousticians, engineers, and experts, who are helping to make rail transport not only the most sustainable mode of transport, but also the most comfortable and community friendly.
Reflecting on his journey, Oertli says, “When I joined UIC, the challenge was clear: how do we make railways quieter without compromising efficiency? Together with many other stakeholders, we turned ideas and research into solutions that matter – like the LL-brake block and the Quieter Routes concept. Seeing these ideas adopted across Europe has been incredibly rewarding.”
Oertli’s work has left a lasting impact on the European rail sector. From managing cost-effective noise mitigation strategies at SBB, to leading international projects like Strategies and Tools to Assess and Implement noise Reducing measures for Railway Systems (STAIRRS), his efforts have consistently turned ideas into practical solutions that improve railways and communities alike.
The journey continues with new goals and challenges ahead
Alf Ekblad, Trafikverket, new Chair & Vibration Group Leader, on the future of vibration management, “Vibration affects infrastructure, track, and people who live close to railways. Our next step is whole-system optimisation: combining noise and vibration management with asset management strategies. We want to develop validated models, share harmonised data, and ensure our mitigation measures work in practice. The next generation of engineers will need to adopt a holistic approach, using field-based data and collaboration to achieve improvements.”
Jamie Wilkes, Network Rail, new Vice Chair & Noise Group Chair, also shared his vision, “Our focus now is on consolidating Jakob’s achievements and exploring new ways to tackle operational and infrastructure-related noise – from parked trains to urban corridors. We want to harmonise data collection across countries, enhance monitoring practices, validate our models, and integrate the perspectives from passengers and communities. This is how we create smarter, more sustainable noise solutions.”
The path forward is full of opportunity. The sector will continue to explore:
- Advanced monitoring and predictive maintenance to anticipate issues and optimise performance
- Validated models to predict the impact of noise and vibration
- Innovative retrofitting solutions for quieter rolling stock
- Integrated strategies for passenger comfort and environmental sustainability
- Tools that help cities and communities plan railways that are quiet, efficient, and community centred
Building quieter, sustainable railways: A call to future leaders
Oertli’s message for future leaders is that “There’s always more to do. Railway noise and vibration will remain a critical challenge. I encourage the next generation to innovate and work together, however, without compromising the rail’s economic viability.”
His legacy goes beyond the projects that he led; he built the knowledge, shaped a vision for quieter and sustainable railways, and created a strong foundation for multicultural teamwork and future progress.
UIC extends its warm thanks to SBB, Trafikverket, and Network Rail for their long-standing commitment and support, and looks forward to continuing this close partnership as the sector moves into a new chapter. As the UIC Noise and Vibration Sector continues to grow, UIC invites new experts, members and future leaders to join this collaborative work, share their innovative ideas and challenges, and help shape the sustainable railways of the future.
If you wish to learn more about UIC Noise Vibration Sector feel free to contact us at: noisevibration@uic.org.