Train/transit stations as "Living Stations" | New Network Rail/Arup report

I have a number of pieces on transit stations that look at the quality of stations on a number of dimensions in terms of multimobility (integrating other modes), as entrypoints and hubs of districts and neighborhoods, around the concept of transportation infrastructure as an element of civic architecture, and stations as nodes within larger networks at the metropolitan, regional and state scales.

-- "Transit, stations, and placemaking: stations as entrypoints into neighborhoods," 2013
-- "New State Rail Planning Initiative in DC," 2015
-- "Transit stations as an element of civic architecture/commerce as an engine of urbanism," 2016
-- "DC Union Station" 2016
-- "Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center: a critical evaluation," 2016
-- "Updating my review of the Silver Spring Transit Center: a few things I missed in 2015," 2018

Although the first report on the quality of Transit Wa.iting Environments that I read was focused on buses, and was produced for the Greater Cleveland Transit Authority. Also see From Here to There: A creative guide to making public transport the way to go from EMBARQ and SEPTA's Modern Trolley Station Design Guide.

In the DC-Maryland-Virginia region, I've recommended that the Metropolitan Planning Organizations come together and produce joint guidance on transit station planning.

A Network Rail report from 2011, Guide to Station Planning and Design Issue 1 Guide to Station Planning and Design looks at station design in terms of three zones:

-- access and interchange
-- facilities
-- platform

covering entry, services and amenities, and waiting and embarking areas.

Network Rail just released a report written by Arup called Tomorrow's Living Station, focuses on how stations can be active hubs beyond their strict transportational role:

Now more than ever, there is a huge opportunity for stations to become bustling, multi-modal hubs that are at the centre of movement for people, support inclusive, sustainable and economic growth, and improve the wellbeing of the communities they serve.

‘Tomorrow’s Living Station’, a report created by Network Rail and Arup, explores and identifies the future role stations will play in our towns and cities:

1. As the centre of movement for people
2. As drivers for inclusive and sustainable growth
3. At the heart of healthy communities

One key "station function" change they foresee is the shift to mobile ticketing, reducing the need for ticketing windows and related functions.

I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but there is a similar planning manual for Swedish Rail, Railway Stations: Planning Manual.  It dates to 2012, with an English version produced in 2018.  It discusses stations as hubs and anchors as well.