Urban Rail Transit Design Manual

Stations play a vital role for passengers and non-travelling users which they are located. They serve the growing needs of an increasingly mobile population and are used by a wide range of users. Stations are also primarily a means of access to the national rail network, in turn acting as a gateway to or from other destinations. They have become increasingly important as destinations in their own right – as places to shop, work, or simply to meet family and friends. Most stations also function as interchange hubs, providing connections between different transport modes.

With millions of journeys made by urban rail each day, designers should recognize the importance of its customers and the need to put passengers first. To ensure that the expectations of its customers are met in full, the design guide in this book places passengers at the forefront of the design process, acknowledging that all elements of station design should be considered to help meet their needs. This book also provides an overview of what designer considers to be important in the planning and design of metro stations and light rail stations. It will be relevant to new or enhancement projects as well as to major renewals or maintenance projects.

This book is intended to support sponsors and project designers throughout the design and development process. It is hoped that all parties involved in station design and operations will find its approach useful and consistent with their own design approach or standards.