SIEMENS has built a sonic measuring tool for use at Wildenrath when approving vehicles against the European Rail Agency's TSI covering noise emissions.

The key to accurately measuring the sound of a passing vehicle is ensuring that recorded noise comes from the train itself and not the track. A section of line has been reserved for noise testing, with braking banned when tests are underway. The laser-guided scanner surveys the railhead, enabling a calculation of the track element of the noise.