Our engineering design services for rail
Our rail team improves the passenger experience with sustainable, integrated building services’ design. This includes advising on the physical interfaces between different asset classes, systems, projects and contracts.
We consider the full lifecycle of a rail asset so it meets immediate and future needs. This covers the planning, design, construction and commissioning of stations, maintenance facilities and control stations.
Keenly aware of the importance of reliability, compliance and risk, our team integrates engineering services with operational readiness.
Making spaces train stations work for people
Stations have become so much more than a functional facility that bookends a journey. They’re mixed-use precincts which commuters, tourists, office workers, hotel guests, tenants, shoppers and passers-by rely on.
The people who use a train station need to feel that their needs are met. For us, building services engineering’s first stop is people.
Rail services
Key elements to making a transport hub work are the interconnectivity between heavy rail, light rail and non-rail assets, including retail, residential, commercial and alternative transport modes. This integration encourages use across public transport and spend across local amenities, helping to enable a community.
Acoustics
The planning stage is where acoustics has the biggest impact on cost planning. Services include:
- assessment of background noise and vibration levels of the surrounding environment with modelling of the trackway and buildings (feasibility)
- environmental noise and vibration assessment and modelling
- review of potential impacts to noise-sensitive receivers
- field surveys and monitoring of construction noise and vibration impacts
- control strategies and measures, including cost-benefit analysis.
Audio visual
Key initiatives include:
- quality audio-visual systems, intelligible from all parts of the facility
- interactive wayfinding
- call points and induction loops.
Information & communications technology (ICT)
Technology needs to meet current expectations and be able to evolve in the future. Must-haves include:
- strong and reliable wi-fi connectivity
- real-time travel data and information exchange
- easy-to-use ticketing system with digital tickets.
Electrical
Installation of a robust low-carbon power supply for the station development needs to consider electrification, renewable energy and transport growth.
As an accredited service provider (ASP3) for high-voltage infrastructure, we offer integrated high and low-voltage power solutions. This is supported by knowledge of processes and technical requirements and experience working with electricity supply authorities.
Our team has experience designing tunnel infrastructure systems and have developed innovative equipment configurations, providing high levels of reliability with minimum infrastructure.
Fire life safety
This needs to allow architectural flexibility while activating retail and mixed use. Integration of fire safety strategies across asset classes is essential, in particular where there’s operational overlap and interfaces.
- Rail projects have rigorous safety standards which need to be considered alongside local building regulations and code requirements for all relevant asset classes.
- The number of stakeholders that need to be consulted is significantly larger than a typical building project.
- Fire engineers need to provide strategies that facilitate commercial opportunities in, above or adjacent to the station while providing practical outcomes for asset owners and users.
- Performance-based fire engineering applies the principles of ‘so far as is reasonably practical’ (SFAIRP) throughout all phases of a project to provide safety assurance.
Hydraulics
Our experience in drainage includes:
- building rainwater waste
- hot and cold water
- sewerage.
Lighting
Lighting plays an important role in accessibility, comfort and safety. Our creative lighting designs can also:
- highlight points of interest
- provide intuitive and interactive wayfinding
- enhance the passenger experience.
Tunnel feature & motorway lighting
- Detailed daylight simulation studies, tunnel and security lighting design
- Effective and efficient lighting schemes focused on safety and security
- Consideration of local and international standards, architectural vision and the impact of visual boredom.
Security
With a national team of licensed security consultants, we can provide all physical and electronic security services for all systems including CCTV, intruder detection, access control, physical security, public address, and emergency help points including duress. These include:
- audits
- compliance checks
- new design
- commissioning services
- security risk assessments and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design advice, reviews, workshops and designs.
Sustainability
We help you build low-carbon, high-performing and resilient spaces with practical, measurable advice. Our data-driven advisory services include:
- electrification
- passive design
- renewable energy
- circularity
- prefabricated design.
Ventilation
Our services cover:
- safety assurance ventilation design and review, including impacts of tunnel cross sections, shaft ventilation and arrangements
- detailed engineering evaluation of tunnel ventilation and external emissions
- review of tunnel excavation and ventilation plant capacity.
