Station Design and Experience (Scoping)

The travel experience is a key determinant of the ability of rail networks to attract travellers and to grow patronage. Railway stations are a key element within the overall journey experience, and are in many respects the “face” of a rail operator. International best practice approaches for mass transit stations are tending toward architectural quality and high levels of retail activation.

In the post-War period, a very basic approach to station design was adopted in many cities. Both the aesthetic, functional and experiential outcomes of passenger stations have since deteriorated as a result of cost constraints – and there is now agreement that rail stations need to be revisited as vital components of the overall customer service experience. A new generation of rail architecture has emerged in Europe as the value of well-designed stations for rail operators, passengers and the surrounding community was recognised. Certain examples in Australia (e.g., Southern Cross Station in Melbourne, Homebush in Sydney) have highlighted the role that well-designed stations can play in local rail revitalisation. Station design for the future of urban rail networks needs to address more sophisticated market segmentation strategies such as those prevalent in Europe (i.e., business lounges at major rail stations, success of 1st class train travel). The role of railway stations as gateways to the community and as the key touch-point of customer interface for urban rail operators is set to re-emerge. But new tools and techniques, in addition to design innovations and project productivity improvements, are required to support this revitalisation on a broad scale across Australian and New Zealand rail networks.

This project represents an early-stage scoping exercise, primarily in the form of a literature review, industry engagement, and proposal development for a long-term research program in station design. Categorisation and classification of stations by projected passenger volume will be an initial focus, as well as the development of draft “principles” for station design.