An Adaptable Kit of Parts
An adaptable kit of parts HUBstations are created from a kit of parts. The kit comprises five primary elements that can be assembled to suit a range of scales and contexts. The kit can be expanded and updated over time. The primary elements are described below.
Welcome Mat and Activity Frame
The welcome mat and activity frame create spaces for people to gather and accommodate a range of potential activities.
The immediate setting and approach to small and medium stations welcome passengers and provide space for people to gather. It facilitate convenient onward travel connections including for active travel.
The welcome mat is an area of public realm and landscape that creates a high quality environment at the entrance to the station. It includes seating, planted rain gardens and the activity frame. Creating a high quality environment, even across a relatively small area, creates a strong first impression of the station and local community.
The Activity Frame
The Activity Frame defines space for community activity. The simple timber frame can be scaled and adapted to suit each location. At the smallest stations it could be reduced to 3-4 bays and provide sheltered cycle parking or pop-up refreshment stands. At larger stations facilities can be expanded to provide other facilities including retail, cycle parking, ticket offices and a staff room.
Clock Tower
The clock tower is a local landmark that signifies the station within the community and serves as the primary point of orientation for small stations. The clock, a feature synonymous with rail travel, and louvred sides of the tower are illuminated creating as a beacon as night falls.
Key passenger information and services including Station name signage, ticket machines and help points are located at the tower base.
All tower configurations house station services equipment, vertical services distribution between ground and canopy, and provide a safe access route for maintenance of the canopy roof.
Clock Tower Material
The HubStation Toolkit includes three base materials.
Options for the tower cladding include:
Primary Option: Timber
Alternative 1: Terracotta
Alternative 2: Corrugated sheet
Canopy
Existing small and medium stations often provide very limited shelter from weather. Providing a large canopy with enclosed shelters beneath offers a better waiting experience for more passengers. The sweeping horizontal canopy is the primary unifying feature of all but the smallest HUB Station configurations.
The canopy is generously proportioned with a clear height of almost 4 metres and extends to the platform edge to provide shelter whilst boarding and alighting. The glue laminated timber structure provides material warmth and helps to minimise embodied carbon. A glazed roof incorporates photovoltaic film transforming the canopy into a renewable energy generator.
An integrated central services spine houses the primary services distribution and provides an easily accessible mounting point for equipment such as speakers, cameras and sensors. Further fixing points are also identified for hanging signage and customer information screens (CIS) and next train indicators (NTI).
Access & Maintenance
HubStation is designed to facilitate easy access to the canopy, tower and main services for maintenance.
Maintenance considerations are embedded within the HUB Station approach as summarised below.
Ladder within tower allows safe maintenance access to lighting and clock face
Canopy roof falls away from tracks to gutter on back edge. PVs to be cleaned annually. Preferred roof and gutter cleaning via mobile access platform or MEWP positioned at the back edge of the canopy. Option for fall prevention line to central walkable gutter is included for island platform scenarios with access via the ladder within the tower - refer to drawing package for details.Fall prevention systems require regular maintenance so should only be used where other options are not available.
All equipment including lighting setback from platform edge to avoid requirement for maintenance possessions or isolations.
Service spine with removable cover for easy maintenance access.
platform drainge and in-ground service conduits coordinated with finishes to allow non-disruptiv ongoing access and setback from platform edge
Pods
Pods provide enclosed accommodation and are scaled and combined together to suit individual station requirements. Facilities include:
Waiting shelters
WCs / baby changing
Ticket office
Staff welfare
Key features include
Consistent planning module allows flexibility and standardisation of components
Sized to fit within both canopy and activity frame structural grids
Full height glazing to long sides (parallel to tracks) with two tone manifestation allows clear views to approaching trains and passive surveillance
Stainless steel upstand and corner details provide robust protection at vulnerable locations
Internal micro perforated timber linings provide material warmth and acoustic absorption to create a comfortable waiting environment
Integrated lighting and services within ceiling
Opaque panels for locally specific graphics
Integrated customer information and advertising screens, with further option for integral help point
Dual aspect waiting pods providing passive surveillance and connection with station public realm
Reflected warm lighting powered by PV Canopy
Step-Free Access
Dual aspect promotes visibility and security
Optional heating and ventilation
Bench seating, warm to touch
Biophillic wall materials
Combined Pod - Waiting and Toilet
Dual aspect promotes visibility and security
Accessible Toilet and Baby Change
Art Wall
Materials and Contextualism
The core material palette of engineered timber, stainless steel, and glazing creates a consistent station brand with a focus on simple, durable materials. A series of coordinated architectural and landscape material palettes allow each station to be tailored to its context.
Construction Sequence
Construction methodology is to be optimised to maximise the benefits of off-site construction and minimise time on site which requires costly and disruptive possessions.
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PAD FOUNDATIONS
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TOWER & T-FRAMES
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TOWER CLADDING + POD INSTALL
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CANOPY PANEL ASSEMBLY
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CANOPY PANEL LIFT
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FINAL FITOUT
“This is a strong and realistic concept for providing a range of new railway stations…demonstrating the potential for speeding and simplifying the delivery of stations through the extensive use of BIM workflows and off-site focused Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). “
Storey Construction
Lighting
Lighting has a key role to play in the HubStation concept. The lighting has been developed to enhance user experience of the various station types, ensuring passengers and staff feel safe and are provided with a quality lit environment that considers the surrounding environmental context.
The lighting provides a sense of shelter for users, through the use of warm light to illuminate the structural timber construction. Integrated lighting to the clock tower provides a civic beacon.
Lighting
Improving The Waiting Experience
Dual aspect visibility and security
Warm lighting with optional heating and ventilation
