More than just a building

Across the country, stations have become so much more than just a place to get on and off trains.

Train stations have come a long way since the first station in Australia opened where Flinders Street station currently stands.

The station first received passengers on the Sandridge Line (now Port Melbourne light rail) in 1854. The platform was 30 metres long and located alongside the fish market. It was updated in 1910 to the Flinders Street Station we know today.

Flash forward to the recent Sydney Metro opening, Cross River Rail and Melbourne’s level crossing removal projects, train stations have come a long way from being a simple structure designed to get people on and off trains.

Throughout Melbourne’s level crossing removal projects, where possible, Victoria’s Big Build has strived to add value for the local community and commuters.

This has included creating as much new open space as possible, building new shared-use walking and cycling paths or commissioning public artwork.

In the suburb of Preston, in Melbourne’s north, an opportunity was identified to improve the whole area around the Bell station by moving it 40 metres away from the major thoroughfare of Bell Street.

This created more open space for the community and paths that connect streets east and west, removing the former divide between communities. The area also features trees, seating and drinking fountains, creating a welcome respite area for waiting train passengers or locals.

Alicia Moran owns Arc Pilates on Oakover Road in Preston and said the new station and shared user path have improved her morning commute.

“I’m loving the new path and use it on my bike commute to work from Reservoir,” she said. “The space created under the railway is wonderful and it’s much less stressful following that path to work.”

The importance of good deign

The Sydney Metro City section opened in August to much fanfare. Six new stations were designed for this section and updates were made to existing stations.

Architecture practice John McAslan + Partners (JMP) was engaged by John Holland to provide the architectural services for the Sydney Metro Waterloo Station.

JMP director Troy Uleman leads the firm’s Sydney studio and said the value of transport led infrastructure to cities can’t be overstated.

“Quality design is key to realising the full potential of transport hubs as community spaces that drive economic growth and make a positive impact socially,” Uleman said.

Beyond this, well-integrated stations add amenity to what exists, support businesses in the wider area and create places full of activity and life.

“More than just a place to pass through on your way from A to B, transport hubs should be uplifting social spaces that welcome the people they serve and are central to community life.

“A well-designed station precinct is an enjoyable place to be – to pause, grab a coffee and perhaps pick up essential supplies. Spatial planning, good architecture and the right mix of retail and hospitality create a great station precinct experience.”

It’s not just the architectural design of the stations that is critical to ensuring ease for passengers. Sydney Metro is finding more ways to support the passenger experience.

State-of-the-art technology will keep customers connected – from planning a journey from home using smart phone travel apps to real time information at metro stations and on-board trains.

The modern stations will be fully accessible for people with a disability, prams and children, including level access between platforms and trains. Customer service assistants will be at every station and will move through the Sydney Metro network during the day and night.

When customers arrive at Sydney Metro stations, there will be safe interchange whether they are walking, cycling, catching the bus, taxi, or being dropped off. Clear signage will direct customers to platforms, other modes of transport and destinations around the station.

This door-to-door approach will help customers achieve their daily tasks, whether it’s getting to work, meetings, school or education, sport, a day out or running errands – and of course, getting home.

Stations making life simpler for passengers

Research shows 11.87 million Australians aged 14+ used public transport at least once during the March quarter 2023.

This is up more than 2.9 million from the 2022 March quarter and an increase of almost five million from the September 2020 quarter when only 6.88 million Australians were using public transport at least once.

These results show a number of passengers are returning to work and are utilising rail for their daily commute. This can pose challenges, particularly when it comes to running important errands.

Queensland Rail is trialling a project to improve passenger experience and support its passengers. Customers can now pick up their parcels on their regular commute, with Australia Post Parcel Lockers available at select stations.

In 2022-23 Australia Post delivered about half a billion parcels. Parcels that could not be delivered were sent on to the Post Office to be collected. The new parcel lockers means parcels can now be sent directly to the station as opposed to waiting to be collected from the Post Office.

Queensland Rail acting general manager for station customer service, Drew Brock, said the organisation is committed to improving its amenities and enhancing the rail journey experience for customers.

“We know in this busy world, convenience is important, and it can be frustrating to stay home waiting for a parcel to be delivered or to leave work early to try and pick it up from a post office,” he said. “We’re excited to partner with Australia Post to offer customers an easy way to collect their parcels as part of their journey with us. We see a lot of potential for this initiative.

“From a commercial perspective we are always interested in exploring opportunities that have the dual benefit of enhancing customer amenities and convenience that offers a commercial return that supports the cost of our operations.”

Australia Post’s free 24/7 Parcel Lockers will be installed at Eagle Junction, Varsity Lakes, Carseldine, Central and Richlands stations as part of a 12-month trial.

Australia Post executive general manager retail Josh Bannister said Australia Post is excited to partner with Queensland Rail and said the organisation is making it easier for commuters to collect deliveries while on the go.

“We’re proud to invest in the state’s transport network and support its partners with added convenience for customers,” he said.

Making stations more accessible

More than 5.5 million Australians live with disabilities, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Making public transport accessible for this demographic is important to ensure all Australians have access to fast and reliable public transport.

In New South Wales, the government is implementing the Safe Accessible Transport program to make public transport safe, inclusive and easy to use for all passengers, especially those with disabilities, older people, people with prams or luggage and others who may be experiencing mobility problems.

A total of $800.7 million over four years was allocated in the 2023-24 New South Wales Budget to implement the new program, which combines the funds of both the existing Transport Access Program (TAP) and Commuter Car Park Program (CCP) and includes an additional $300 million commitment.

The program will upgrade stations to achieve Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (DSAPT) compliance, improving amenity, access and safety and acknowledging the important role these locations have to the communities they serve.

Transport for NSW determines the priority of upgrades using evidence-based criteria, including:

• the needs and demographics of passengers who use the location
• whether important services such as hospitals or educational facilities are nearby
• current and future patronage
• cumulative impacts of other construction projects; and
• the accessibility of other nearby transport interchanges and facilities.

The Disability Resources Centre is a Victorian member of Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPO Australia), formed in 1981. It consulted 450 individuals with disabilities throughout Victoria in late 2017 and early 2018 to better understand the state’s transport network and how it affected them.

Those with a visual or hearing impairment noted difficulty in finding reliable information while using public transport. In particular, when a change to a service occurs, the information provided is slow to react, if at all.

One respondent explained what public transport would look like in a perfect world.

“Being able to decide on the day and know you can get on the bus, train or taxi just for the pleasure of travel. I could then be spontaneous, have choice and freedom,” they said.

The report noted a number of issues including lack of genuine consultation with people with disabilities, lack of awareness of disability by both public transport operators and the general public and barriers to public transport due to the built environment.

The organisation made several recommendations, including better access to ministers for public transport matters, ongoing consultation and comprehensive disability education, among others.

Public art

Nothing shows the transition of train stations from bleak buildings to exciting public spaces more than the introduction of public art. This has been exemplified on the METRONET Yanchep Rail Extension in Western Australia where eight local artists have created nine public art pieces to be displayed at stations along the extension.

The artists included two Noongar artists whose work is displayed at Alkimos Station, Eglington Station and Yanchep Station in Perth.

The pieces at Alkimos Station incorporate aspects of the landscape and culture of Alkimos, including the Melaleuca Paperbark tree, the connection between land and water, and the story of the rainbow serpent.

Eglington Station art pieces use colour to highlight the biodiversity of the region. The artist said commuters walking through the station will feel the echo of the ocean meeting the Tuart Forest.

Uleman explained the reasoning for some of the artwork selected in the Waterloo Station in Sydney and the importance of using artwork in these projects.

“Waterloo is a multicultural community with a rich Indigenous, social and industrial history. Our design takes passengers on a journey shaped by Waterloo’s layered heritage,” he said. “The incorporation of Indigenous themes, in collaboration with artists and design consultants, aligns with the concept of ‘designing with Country’, grounding the station in the area’s deep history while symbolising a robust future for First Nations people.”

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