The systematic re-gauging of railway lines across Britain has been presenting HBPW with a series of platform challenges in the North West.
The Buckingham Group asked HBPW to design temporary platforms at Swinton and Walkden railway stations in Greater Manchester, as part of Network Rail’s on going programme of vertically and horizontally re-aligning hundreds of miles of track up and down the country, in order to bring them up to modern standards.
“Many trains now come into stations and the gap between their passenger ‘step’ and the platform below has, over time, increased to the point that many elderly or disabled people are now disadvantaged.
“It is a phenomena of modern rolling stock but is worse in certain parts of the country, hence why Network Rail is committed to improving the passenger experience with its programme of re-gauging,” said HBPW Partner, Paul Monaghan. The project will raise platform heights at the two Greater Manchester stations.
Swinton and Walkden’s existing platforms had to be repaired then temporarily extended so that original sections, closer to respective station buildings, could be worked on without compromising the overall length of either platform.
HBPW designed the temporary platforms as well as the hoardings, which keep members of the public safe during the development phase by preventing people from getting onto the construction site.
“It was a technical challenge because of the need to build new platforms whilst maintaining passenger throughput, however, all parties worked extremely well together to produce a good result,” added Paul.