Whether they serve commuters to the city centre or freight to a local manufacturing plant, railway stations form a critical link between transport networks and urban infrastructures. Millions of passengers, as well as a great many tons of goods pass through them on a daily basis. For this reason, a good railway station is vitally important and has to offer an effective interface between the passenger journey and other modes of transportation – by tram, bus, taxi, car, bike, foot and air.
The station area has to be well designed and logically organised, with a main entrance serving as focal point for orientating and linking the different functions. This is essential, especially for larger stations with high passenger numbers and a complex range of services. A clear layout reduces walking times to the platform and facilitates a quick transfer between trains. The entrance should be clearly marked and sheltered against the weather. The station building should provide a ticket office and information enquiry points, toilets and waiting areas. It must have a communication zone that links set-down/pick-up zones with platforms, usually via lifts, escalators, stairways and bridges.
Often, a station building will also contain shops and cafes. The design of these facilities has a huge impact on the passenger experience and should be tailored to the local context. For instance, in a city with a large military presence it might be unwise to allow the sale of military memorabilia or fast food. It is also necessary to consider the safety and security issues when planning the design of public areas.
In the past, railway companies developed their station buildings in a variety of architectural styles. The most formal ones were designed in the Beaux Arts tradition with monumental colonnades that define the design’s focus and immense ticket lobbies or halls.
Other stations were designed in the Art Deco and Classical Revival style, with a simple and abstract character. They were largely built during the golden age of rail travel, but with the advent of cars and air transport, many have fallen into disrepair and have been abandoned. Fortunately, some of the most significant stations are now being restored and even protected.
As a result, railway stations are now considered a national treasure and can be visited by tourists for their unique architecture and historical associations. Nevertheless, most of them still face challenges in terms of maintaining their functionality and user-friendliness and in preserving their heritage.
The challenge for the future is to balance these competing interests. A well-designed railway station is a vital link between the urban and transport infrastructure, but it should also be a place of enjoyment for its users.
The defining characteristic of a modern railway station is its high level of comfort and convenience. This can be achieved by a combination of factors, including:
