Leatherhead Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Leatherhead station is on the list.
These pictures show the station and the current subway,
This is one of those stations, where lifts could probably be put into the subway.
But this would probably mean closing the subway, which is the main access between the platforms.
Look at this Google Map of the Northern end of the station.
The map illustrates another problem. There is car parking by the London-bound platform and commuters will need to cross the tracks.
But the map does show there is a lot of space and a step-free bridge might be possible at this end of the station.
In Winner Announced In The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition, I wrote how the competition was won by this bridge.
So could a factory-built bridge like this be installed be installed at Leatherhead station?
Example Cost And Timescale For A Step-Free Footbridge
This article on Network Rail’s web site is entitled Investment In West Calder Gives Station Accessibility A Lift.
The project replaced an existing bridge.
- It cost £2.7 million.
- It took ten months to build and commission.
- Station access was maintained at all times.
It looks to have been a well-managed project.
This picture shows the bridge.
How would it compare with the recent winner of Network Rail’s competition to find a new footbridge design?
Having not seen either bridge in the metal, I’ll give my judgement when I have.
Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition Display At Waterloo Station
As I passed through Waterloo station, yesterday, I happened upon, this display of the designs for the Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition.
If you are interested in design or have movement difficulties at times on the UK rail network, and regularly pass through the station, it is worth taking a look.
Herne Bay Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Herne Bay station is on the list.
These pictures show the station and the current subway.
This Google Map shows the station.
Note.
- The station has two platforms, with a closed third platform.
- The Eastbound platform is Platform 2, with the Westbound platform numbered 1.
- The two platforms are connected by a very bad subway, with steep stairs at either end.
- There are three trains per hour (tph) in both directions through the station.
Whilst I was at the station, there were three guys with bikes using the trains.
Consider.
- In my experience, coastal stations attract visitors with buggies and bikes.
- There are a higher proportion of older passengers.
- Good weather can increase passenger numbers.
It is without doubt the sort of smaller station on the coast, that needs step-free access.
Installing Step-Free Access
When I first saw the subway, I thought it could be possible to just add a lift at each end.
But looking at the station and the pictures on this page, I wonder if a bridge would be better.
- The subway is rather cramped and might not be wide enough for a large wheelchair or buggy to pass another.
- Digging the lift shafts would probably close the subway for at least a few weeks.
- There appears to be space at the Eastern end of the station for a bridge.
- Adding a bridge wouldn’t interfere with the siubway operation.
- If the station had both a bridge and a subway, the extra capacity would be welcome and might help reliability.
In Winner Announced In The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition, I wrote how the competition was won by this bridge.
Could a factory-built bridge like this be used at Herne Bay station?
- The bridge would be designed to fit.
- Platform 2 would probably need to be widened, so passengers could pass the steps to get to the lift.
I think it could be made to work very well!
Croy Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Croy station is on the list.
These pictures show the station and the current bridge,
This Google Map shows the station.
Note how the car parking is on the Glasgow-bound side of the tracks.
So after a hard day’s work, shopping, watching football or just at leisure in Glasgow, to get back to your car at Croy station, you will need to climb up and down steep steps.
The station desperately needs a well designed bridge to give passengers and especially the less able to get back to the car parking.
Installing Step-Free Access
This Google Map shows an enlarged view of the platforms in the Glasgow direction.
Note how the disabled parking spaces are close to the station building and the Glasgow-bound platform.
In Winner Announced In The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition, I wrote how the competition was won by this bridge.
Could a factory-built bridge like this be used at Croy station?
Looking at the Google Map, it might even be possible to fit the bridge between the two overhead gantries for the electrification, which are visible!
It appears to me, that Network Rail’s competition has come up with an adaptable and very practical design.
Uddingston Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Uddingston station is on the list.
These pictures show the station and the current bridge,
This Google Map shows the station.
Note that Uddingston station has a fair amount of car parking, that is arranged on both sides of the tracks.
So if a traveller commutes or goes shopping in Glasgow, they have to cross the bridge at least once on their two journeys.
Installing Step-Free Access
In Winner Announced In The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition, I wrote how the competition was won by this bridge.
Could a factory-built bridge like this be used at Uddingston station?
I think, due to space limitations, it might need to replace the current footbridge.
The advantage of placing it in the same position, is that the lift on the Northern side is close to the disabled parking spaces.
Beaconsfield Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Beaconsfield station is on the list.
These pictures show the station and the current bridge,
This is a Google Map of the station.
Note these points about Beaconsfield station.
- There is a large multi-story car park alongside the London-bound platform
- There are entrances on both sides of the railway.
- The station is in a deep cutting and the paths down to the station could be easier. But this seventy-one-year-old managed them!
- Currently, three trains per hour (tph) call at the station in both direction in the Off Peak, wwith more in the Peak.
- There is space between the current two tracks for an avoiding line.
- The platforms are very long, although I would prefer them to be wider.
The station also has the problem of many stations used by shoppers going to a nearby large city. Many travellers come home in the evening carrying a lot more, than they left with.
So do travellers want to cross a bridge without lifts carrying heavy, bulky or just plain awkward parcels, to get back to their car?
I’m fairly certain that a bridge at this station might encourage more travellers to use the train rather than their car for a trip to London.
So I can certainly understand, why it is on Network Rail’s list.
Installing The Step-Free Access
I think that this could be one of those stations, where a solution similar to that at Slough station can be used, where the old bridge was given a good refurbishment and a new step-free bridge was installed on the other side of the station entrances.
This picture, which was taken from the original bridge, shows the new step-free bridge at Slough station.
It is a good design philosophy, which has advantages.
- During the installation of the new bridge, the station can be fully operational.
- Able-bodied travellers can choose their best route.
- Two bridges have a higher capacity than one.
- It is unlikely both bridges will be out of action at the same time.
- The only extra cost will be refurbishing the existing bridge.
In Winner Announced In The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition, I wrote how the competition was won by this bridge.
So could a factory-built bridge like this be installed on the Eastern side of the station buildings?
This enlarged Google Map shows the Eastern end of the station.
Consider.
- If the bridge were to be placed with the lifts on the Eastern side, the lift on the London-bound platform would be conveniently close to the disabled parking bays.
- It would also mean, that travellers with walking difficulties or encumbered by heavy cases or young children, could get in the rear coach at Marylebone and be ideally placed for the bridge to get to the car-park.
- Note that the main taxi office is placed for trains from London.
- More able travellers could use either route, depending on where they were going.
Beaconsfield could be a station, with step-free access of the highest quality.
Northallerton Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Northalleron station is on the list.
This 3D Google Map shows the station.
Currently to cross the tracks, there is a subway with a steep ramp.
Installing Step-Free Access
In Winner Announced In The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition, I wrote how the competition was won by this bridge.
So could a factory-built bridge like this be installed on the wide platforms?
Winner Announced In The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition
The title of this post is the same as that of this page on the Network Rail web site.
This image from the page shows the winning design.
Obviously, it has several passenger friendly features.
- Safe steps with double-handrails on both sides and a take-a-break step at halfway.
- Lifts.
- A covered bridge with good views of the station.
But what I like about it are these design and manufacturing features.
- The width and height could be easily adjusted for different locations.
- It could accommodate escalators.
- Three- and four-platform bridges could follow the same theme.
- It could be built in a factory and just lifted in a few pieces onto a prepared site.
- Cost of an installation could be calculated on the back of an engineering envelop or fag-packet.
I also think it is one of those good designs, that will inspire its users and perhaps prompt younger people to take up design or engineering as a career.
A Network Rail Standard Footbridge
If this standard off-the-shelf design or something like it or better was available, how many stations could be given step-free access in the next few years?
As Network Rail sponsored this competition with RIBA, let’s hope they follow through their original initiative.
The footbridge could even have applications outside of the railway industry!
73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
This is the first paragraph.
Selected stations will, subject to a feasible design being possible, receive an accessible route into the station, as well as to and between every platform.
It appears that £300million of additional funding will be used to create full step-free access at seventy-three stations.
Stations That Could Benefit From This Standard Bridge
I have visited several of the stations and I feel that a standard bridge approach could benefit these stations.
- Anniesland
- Beaconsfield
- Bridlington
- Catford
- Crowborough
- Croy
- Grays
- Herne Bay
- Northallerton
- St. Erth
- Stowmarket
- Uddingston
I shall add to this list, as I discover more stations, that are suitable.
Crowborough Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Crowborough station is on the list.
This Google Map shows the 3D image of the station.
Note.
- The current bridge is in the North East corner of the map.
- The platforms were lengthened and refurbished in 2016 to accept ten-car trains.
Crowborough would appear to be a typical well-built and managed country station.
Installing Step-Free Access
In Winner Announced In The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition, I wrote how the competition was won by this bridge.
I think there are three options for using a factory-built bridge like this at Crowborough station.
- The new bridge replaces the existing bridge.
- A new bridge is placed in a different position and the old one is demolished.
- A new bridge is built in addition to the current bridge.
In my view, if the condition of the old bridge is good enough, the third option is preferable.
The Anonymous Widower 