Railway stations present a massive challenge for the railway industry.
Old temples to the industrial revolution, who would have thought they had any place in modern technobeat Britain? Yet the old scaffolding, lead paint and boxed-in facades are being stripped aside as railway stations step back into the limelight once more.
Artistic integrity
Long over due for redevelopment and expansion, the industry is taking up the challenge with great aplomb. Not only are stations being spruced up but the job is being done tastefully with an artistic integrity once thought rare among railway staff.
Edinburgh Waverley is being reglazed. Paddington is to be revealed in all its glory. Sunderland features modern art. Railway stations are becoming pleasanter places. Idling in bookshops and cafés at St Pancras International is a pleasure.
The scope of railway station development marks a new confidence in the industry. Stations such as King’s Cross, Birmingham New Street and Reading are already undergoing major redevelopment to cope with projected passenger numbers.
A stimulus to business
Not only must railway stations expand to cope with the 1000s returning to rail they must make a return on the substantial investment involved. Railways are seen as a stimulus to business. Stations with their immense footfall present great opportunities.
Recent analysis of passenger congestion at stations published by Network Rail points out that smaller stations are affected too. In keeping with Network Rail’s policy of devolving power to locals, more resources could be freed up for local and regional stations.
Says Paul Plummer, Network Rail’s director of planning and development, ‘Working with a range of partners across the rail industry we have identified a number of stations that would benefit from further congestion reduction measures. We know there is no one-size-fits-all solution, so the strategy is not prescriptive, and instead includes a number of cost-effective measures that could be tailored to the needs of individual stations across Britain.’
The story of Britain’s railway stations might grab fewer headlines. However, it is no less dramatic. Developments showcased in this special supplement will encourage and reassure all who work in the rail industry.
 What a load of bollocks