A new challenge: a vital and comfortable reception domain

In the past decade, many major stations have been rebuilt. Much to the delight of travelers and locals; Rotterdam Central, Breda, Tilburg, The Hague, Arnhem CS; they are all beautiful, large, functional stations that also add something to the city. But the majority of stations in the Netherlands are not large, but medium-sized or small. And at many of these stations, the picture is very different. There, reality does not align with policy ambitions. There, pedestrians do not feel welcome, the station surroundings are cluttered or even unsafe. To tackle this important challenge, Civic investigated 'the open-air station'.

Traveling by train has changed over the past decades; the paper ticket has been replaced by the OV-Chipkaart, the timetable is now on everyone's phone. These changes have an impact on stations. At smaller stations, many station buildings have become redundant. The reception area - where the traveler is welcomed - is in the outdoor space at many stations. But that space is not yet designed for it. The question is what we can do about this. A station area that fits well into the surroundings, encourages travel by public transport, utilizes cultural heritage, is safe, and is a pleasant place to stay. That is the ideal. How are we going to ensure this at smaller stations? Therefore, in this research, we analyzed 16 stations, and with this, we sharpened how the task is structured.

For a number of stations, we have created designs to make them recognizable, legible, safe, tidy, pleasant, with clear walking routes and plenty of amenities. We have made proposals for Dordrecht Central, Almere Muziekwijk, Cuijk, Alkmaar, Didam, and Vierlingsbeek. The goal? With relatively modest means, to ensure much more quality.

The relationship between the reception area and the station building: Station Dordrecht
The reception area is next to the station building, but due to the spatial structure, this is not immediately clear. Two strategies are possible: guiding towards the current reception area by extending the platform and marking the entrance, or reusing a wing of the station building for the reception area. The rest of the building will be given a new public function.

The station building: Station Cuijk
An empty station gives an unkempt impression. Therefore, part of this building has been put back into use for the reception area and a combination of waiting and catering. This can also help in finding new tenants for the rest of the building. The layout of the public space enhances the experience of the reception area and the routing towards the platforms.

The public space in the station area: Station Almere Muziekwijk
With the introduction of the OV-Chipkaart and gates, more and more station facilities have ended up on the sidewalk. By reorganizing these and placing them along a spacious route for travelers and passersby, a clear and orderly situation is created. The underpass is widened by making the retail space more compact. Through redesigning with greenery and new paving, the area becomes recognizable and pleasant to stay in.

Based on these design studies, we have developed a number of design principles and tools that provide guidance for addressing the challenge at other stations. They apply to the reception area, the station building, the surroundings, and their interrelation. These principles form a repertoire of strategies that designers of open-air stations can use.

The study 'The Open-Air Station' formed the basis for 'Heartily Welcome'. With this report, ProRail and NS invite all parties involved in station areas to collaborate on creating more pleasant, better station environments. It can be used in the initiation phase of projects and in exploring the task, and it helps during a design process to better formulate (joint) ambitions. Both reports can be downloaded here: https://www.spoorbeeld.nl/methodes/hartelijk-welkom