Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof
Analysis 6 railway stations Deutsche Bahn
Project
Analysis 6 railway stations Deutsche Bahn
Location
Several cities Germany
Client
Deutsche Bahn
Year design
2016

Germany has an extensive rail network with around 5.000 stations. On behalf of Deutsche Bahn Station&Service we received the request to look through the eyes of travelers to the use and experience of six large stations that are nominated for a quality impulse. These are Frankfurt Hbf, Hamburg Altona, Munich, Augsburg, Magdeburg and Osnabrück. A number of stations will soon be rebuilt on a large scale, others will only undergo a small-scale redevelopment. At all these stations the passenger experience is below par.

Because DB itself already compiled a list of possible measures, the question was twofold:
1: which DB measures should be implemented to improve the experience of travel and stay
2: which additional improvements Blom&Moors recommends

Research
The research consists of an analysis of the qualities and characteristics present and a thorough inventory. We visited the stations on several occasions during the day and in the evening. The inventories relate to furnishing elements such as seating furniture, travel information, kiosks, vending machines, planting and waste facilities, and additional aspects such as day and artificial light quality, material and color use, art and cultural expressions, maintenance and advertising.

Advice
This research resulted in a comprehensive set of advice for all six stations. The most appealing opportunities and proposals are also visualized. We have made sketches and plans of the current situation of objects and made proposals for improvement. Use was made of the generic layout principles developed by Blom&Moors for the (re)design of platforms and other station spaces.

The advice focuses on both the short and the long term. In addition, 'quick wins' are indicated: immediately feasible measures that can be realized at low cost. It is possible that travelers will be able to rest in the sunny Magdeburger Bahnhofsgarten in the future or look at art in the now still gritty Osnabrück railway tunnel.