Schall 03, the guideline for the calculation of sound immissions from railways, gives instructions on how to conduct acoustic railway studies and is the basis for the calculation of railway noise according to the Traffic Noise Ordinance (16th Federal Immission Control Ordinance). It was introduced by the German Federal Railways (Deutsche Bundesbahn) and is to be applied as for the calculation of sound emissions and immissions in the proximity of railway and tram installations.

Schall 03 contains no information on noise measurement as the rating level principally has to be calculated.

Similar to DIN 18005-1 and RLS-90, the rating levels apply to light wind blowing from the sound source to the place of immission and if necessary to existing temperature inversions. Significantly lower levels will occur in many cases. Slight exceedances of the calculated values are rare.

The guideline indicates a calculation method for the average sound level considering local conditions like type of train, average amount of trains per hour, travel speed, train length, type of track (type of track bed) as well as the distance to the railway line. The impact of bridges, railway crossings and track curves are equally taken into account. The squeaking noises occurring in curves can lead to sound level additions of up to 8 dB(A).

A place of immission 3.5 m above the ground is assumed for the calculation of the rating levels on undeveloped territory, 0.2 m above the upper edge of the windows of the considered floor for the rating levels of buildings.

As railway noise is perceived as less disturbing, a value of 5 dB(A) is deducted from the calculated rating level. This railway bonus accounts for the "characteristic features of rail-borne traffic" mentioned in § 43 of the Federal Immission Control Act.

Figure 3/8 illustrates the average sound level in a distance of 25 m from the centre line of the track depending on the amount of trains per type of train and hour (trains of the same type with the same share of carriages equipped with rail brakes and the same speed) and on the share of carriages equipped with disc brakes in the whole train. The length of the train is 100 m, the speed 62 mph (100 km/h). The average altitude of the connection line between place of emission and place of immission is 2.0 m.

Figure 3/9 gives the sound level variations which have to be considered due to the different distances between the centre line of the track and the place of immission.

Just like in DIN 18005-1 and RLS-90 the rating levels are calculated separately for day and night. As immission limit values according to the Traffic Noise Ordinance (see section 3.1.2.4) are lower at nighttime than at daytime and railway noise emissions are often the same for day and night, a calculation of the nighttime values suffices in many cases.

Schall 03 also contains calculation examples but no guide or limit values.