Improving pedestrian access: case study of Hayle Railway Station

Abstract

Ensuring safe access for passengers at train stations is extremely important, and with over 11 million people in Great Britain classed as disabled, those responsible for stations and the rail network need to ensure that safety measures are put in place for all members of the community. Without suitable handrails, ramps and lifts, access can be extremely limited at train stations. Recent years have seen the launch of several initiatives aimed at improving access for disabled people and substantial amounts of money has been allocated to improve access at main line stations. Safety is, of course, the foremost concern and a correctly installed handrail provides optimum safety for all passengers. There are a number of possible handrailing solutions on the market which satisfy the requirements of regulations and standards such as the Equality Act 2010, Building Regulations Part M and British Standard BS 8300. The two main options available are fabricated systems and tubular structures, which are assembled using standard tube and fittings. The flexibility and benefits of using tube and fittings meant they were able to cater for the specific requirements at Hayle Railway Station as can be seen in the following case study.