Case Study: Stannah at Clapham Junction: Nine new bespoke passenger lifts where once there were none
Clapham Junction bespoke lift 1It’s one of Europe’s busiest stations with more than 180 trains per hour stopping or passing through and over 430,000 passengers a day using 17 platforms. No wonder Clapham Junction was a priority for easier accessibility.
A welcome upgrade to a heritage site
Opened in 1863, this Victorian station has benefitted from a major investment programme funded by the Department for Transport’s Access For All scheme and National Stations Improvement Programme, South West Trains, Wandsworth Council, Transport for London, Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust.
Following a £14.5 million refurbishment by Network Rail, improvements were officially opened in May 2011 by Transport Minister, Norman Baker MP, and London Mayor, Boris Johnson. Now, all travellers (including people with disabilities, young children or heavy luggage) benefit from better access to the 17 platforms, less congestion and improved facilities which include new ticketing systems, travel information screens, toilets, shops, taxi and car pickup and drop-off point, and cycle racks for up to 72 bicycles.
Access in action
Stannah’s Major Projects team, in partnership with main contractor, Osborne, spearheaded this logistically challenging project. Disruption to the public and station function was minimised by the delivery of equipment to the machine and lift shafts on the platforms being executed during engineering hours while a track possession had been arranged by Osborne. The concrete shaft sides were craned over the station top to the installation site where all nine lifts being were safely constructed.
“The excavation and construction of each new lift presented its own challenges. Each 16-person passenger lift comprises two concrete walls and two glass shaft walls. The concrete walls were procured by Osborne from Cornish Concrete, and were preassembled as a trial in Cornwall to ensure all aspects of the assembly were proven, before the critical installation during precious possession at Clapham Junction. The trial assembly was attended by the entire project team – Network Rail, Osborne, Butler & Young Lift Consultants and Stannah – so all skilled parties could ensure the proposed method for craning the concrete panels, propping, adjustment and measurement would leave no room for errors during installation at Clapham Junction.”
Bespoke solutions from Stannah
- All the passenger lifts are bespoke solutions for a unique site:
- 50% glazed lift cars – installed to Network Rail Specification – boosting light on both levels
- Individually designed, 16-person, 2-stop lifts with hydraulic drive
- Dedicated motor rooms, some remotely located; others adjacent to the lift where space allows. Each motor room stores the Bucher hydraulic power packs and drives that ensure smooth journeys and accurate levelling.
- A phased approach that minimised passenger disruption
- Phase I: the first three lifts serving platforms 1-6 installed and in use since January 2010
- Phase II: five lifts installed serving platforms 7-12, and platform 17; all in service since Spring 2011
- Phase III: the ninth installation was completed within the ticket office area in May 2011
- The official opening: 19 May 2011
Future Maintenance
All lifts were installed with a Stannah 1-year, full maintenance package as part of the contract and have now been adopted on the Network Rail national maintenance contract (currently standing at 735 assets). They are serviced by the Dartford branch of Stannah Lift Services, a nationwide network providing 24 hour, 365 days a year support. This network covers service, repair, modernisation and refurbishment of all types of lifts, stairlifts, escalators and moving walkways – not only those from the Stannah product range, but also other lift manufacturers’ equipment. Stannah also offers a bespoke lifts service, custom-building lifts to meet customers’ specific requirements.
A new customer experience
For the first time in Clapham Junction’s 148-year history, passengers of all mobility levels can now appreciate step-free access to and from all platforms, with the added benefit of the myriad extra improvements sympathetic to this Victorian station.
Stannah for Network Rail
Stannah has completed more than eighty lift refurbishments across the UK for Network Rail. Typical projects include removal of existing lifts, repair of lift shafts, replacement or refurbishment of machine room equipment, installation of new lift cars and associated building work – often with Stannah as principal contractor.
The Stannah promise
Stannah is committed to delivering:
- The best quality products
- Superior service
- Good value for money
- And, last but not least, reliability
All backed by a 150-year lift manufacturing pedigree.