NEIGHBOURHOOD INITIATIVE TO DEMAND THE INSTALLATION OF ACOUSTIC BARRIERS THAT ARE ALREADY MANDATED BY LAW

REQUIRED BY LAW

Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishes the need to monitor and reduce environmental noise caused by transport infrastructures, including railways. This regulation requires all Member States to produce strategic noise maps and to implement action plans to reduce noise in the most affected areas.At the national level, Spain has transposed this directive through Law 37/2003 on Noise, which mandates the implementation of corrective measures wherever the noise thresholds established by law are exceeded. ADIF, as the entity responsible for the railway network, is in charge of defining and applying these corrective measures.In 2021, ADIF presented a proposal for acoustic barriers, but the Sitges Town Council rejected it on aesthetic grounds. Since then, no effective measures have been taken, despite the fact that the problem persists and seriously affects the quality of life of local residents.In April 2025, ADIF submitted a new proposal to the Sitges Town Council, for which we have requested a copy, but we have not yet received a response. Moreover, several tenders related to the installation of acoustic barriers are currently being published in the Spanish Official State Gazette (BOE).
Therefore, now is the time to push for the definitive implementation in Sitges.

sitges status

With increasing urban density in areas near railway lines, train noise has become a growing problem that directly affects the health and well-being of the population. The World Health Organization has identified environmental noise as one of the main health risk factors in European cities, associated with sleep disorders, chronic stress, cardiovascular problems, and a reduced quality of life.In Sitges, the situation is particularly delicate. The railway line crosses the municipality longitudinally, dividing the urban core into two halves and creating both a physical and acoustic barrier that affects internal mobility and urban cohesion. In addition to the constant noise, this fragmentation hinders connections between neighborhoods, access to services, and daily coexistence between different areas of the town.For all these reasons, it is urgent to implement effective noise protection measures, such as the acoustic barriers already being installed in many Spanish municipalities, and to promote urban planning solutions that minimize the impact of this infrastructure on the daily lives of Sitges residents.

HELP OUT?

We are a citizens' platform from Sitges demanding the installation of acoustic barriers along the railway line, in accordance with European noise pollution regulations. Learn more about the project, access official information, and support us by signing.