Refurbishment
Key to station transformation is gaining true understanding of the requirements of all those who operate, use, visit and enjoy its facilities says David Briggs
T
he primary consideration in modern-day transformations is the station’s stakeholders – the people, organisations
and businesses that are affected by the surroundings, atmosphere and end-user experience.
Those stakeholders can generally be split into the following groups: the infrastructure asset owners, the tenant or train operating company; third party tenants - the retailers and businesses using the station as a means of profitably interacting with consumers; and, of course, the travelling public.
The asset owners and tenants The requirements of the asset owners and tenants are, first and foremost, that the station design supports the rail system and helps tenants and Toc's to run reliable, efficient services. A robust, reliable infrastructure is therefore paramount, as is the ease with which passengers navigate the station. As such, fluid, uninterrupted pedestrian flow is key.
Morgan Sindall's work in developing
Whitechapel station is a case in point, as the concept design had to allow for a significant increase in passenger numbers. The company is providing architectural, mechanical, electrical and public health design services to integrate Whitechapel's existing London Underground and East London Line services with the wider station improvements being delivered by Crossrail.
The key elements of the project include a bridge at the entrance, which will provide effective and efficient links between the platforms and concourse, in turn improving pedestrian flow. Additional entrance routes into the station from Cambridge Heath Road and Durward Street allow more people to enter and exit the station quickly and safely.
Minimising disruption while station improvements are underway is important to all the stakeholders. At Whitechapel, we are designing a temporary ticket hall and are working with the contractor to deliver a completely coordinated and phased installation programme, which will reduce the impact on passengers and help to maintain train scheduling. The tenant has a duty to the other
September 2013 Page 57
stakeholders in that it is responsible, for example, for ensuring that the station is safe for passengers and station staff, and significant budgets are allocated accordingly. A culture of safety has been adopted, particularly in recent years, whereby stations are designed with light, open and transparent spaces, with sufficient exits in the event of a fire.
Retrospectively improving accessibility There are considerable challenges in retrospectively improving accessibility, especially to older underground stations. Facilities for the disabled in modern station transformations should be an integral part of the space; easy to navigate and not overly congested. A key part of any design philosophy is to make these facilities a welcoming part of the station - rather than looking like an after-thought.
A destination in itself
There has been a marked change in what the travelling public now expects and it's more akin to an airport. Priorities are cleanliness, efficiency, ambience, security and convenience, though not necessarily in that order.
Strong emphasis on convenience More than just pleasant, the future of rail station design will have a strong emphasis on convenience. The increasingly time- poor general public want to use their station, a place that they generally visit
The ambience of a station affects how much time travellers want to spend there and can even encourage them to arrive early so that they can eat, shop and enjoy the start of an un-rushed onward journey. Maximising the use of natural light and open spaces, and using materials that are light in colour and easy to clean and maintain will help a station become an engaging and inviting destination. The recent and ongoing upgrades of Liverpool’s Lime Street and James Street Underground stations – where Morgan Sindall Professional Services is working with the Construction and Infrastructure division of Morgan Sindall Group – illustrates the point. The £10 million project will completely refurbish the stations - replacing all platform and corridor finishes, providing tunnel lining cladding and fire protection, improved lighting and a new lift and escalators.
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