Whether it’s a new underground metro, a multi-region high-speed line or an automated people mover making transit easier over short distances, railway infrastructure presents unique design and engineering challenges. 

Arup’s rail team provides the full range of multidisciplinary expertise and creativity to develop rail engineering and design solutions that are cost-effective, efficient, sustainable and delivered safely in high-risk environments.

Tunnels, depots and viaducts

From bored and mined tunnels to cut-and-cover our global tunnel experts lead engineering design for complex tunnelling programmes and projects for rail clients.

Tunnels, depots and viaducts

Wherever a rail scheme is located, tunnels, depots and viaducts are among the most common infrastructure needs – and sometimes the most challenging to develop within the constraints of space, topography and cost.

Crossrail tunnelling taking place

For London's Crossrail, we worked in a JV with Atkins to deliver 42km of new tunnels in a city replete with existing subterranean infrastructure. We helped develop the strategy (reducing the number of TBMs required) and used the then novel approach of providing a digital GIS platform to contain the vast amounts of geotechnical, land and site data.

From bored and mined tunnels to cut-and-cover our global tunnel experts lead engineering design for complex tunnelling programmes and projects for rail clients. This includes design of core structures, ventilation, fire and safety, systems, aerodynamics, ground movements and building impacts, as well as programme and construction management, in addition to the core rail systems such as tracks, communications and signalling. We also work with clients managing operational tunnels/railways to optimise tunnel inspection and maintenance.

Our multidisciplinary expertise also includes design, optimisation and renewals of rail bridges and viaducts, including digitisation of core infrastructure to support efficient, data-based asset management.

Learn more about our work on Crossrail's tunnelling

Depots

We also bring our deep domain expertise of operational railways into design thinking for rail testing and maintenance depots. We are also exploring industry leading approaches to efficient, low carbon depot designs that take advantage of features such as green infrastructure, water harvesting technologies and sourcing of local materials.

Learn more about our work on the Great Western Intercity Express Programme

 

Stations

Our experience includes stations and depots of all scales and types, from metros to high-speed rail, and from suburban stations to the busiest urban interchanges.

Stations

For Arup, station design is always centred on the passenger or ‘user’ experience. This means understanding the end-to-end journey, including a range of users behaviours and preferences.

Taralgon train station on Victoria's Gipsland Line upgrade - Our design vision places each station at the heart of the community, improving public amenity, accessibility and providing a strong sense of place.

Given the high initial investment costs associated with rail infrastructure we understand the significance of providing good value for money. Our specialist rail architecture and design team has wide global experience blending function with elegance in a cost-effective manner for rail clients. Our kit-of-parts design approach ensures maintenance and replacements remain affordable over the rail system's full lifespan.

A new or redeveloped station offers considerable opportunities to meet local needs, including new homes and businesses above or adjacent to stations. Combining our domain expertise across rail, retail, commercial and residential buildings, we can also help clients to design station oversite developments. 

Our global experience encompasses stations and depots of all scales and types, from metros to high-speed rail, and from suburban stations to the most complex and busiest urban interchanges. We also understand the entire context and process for realising the development potential created by stations. This begins with masterplanning and business cases and progresses through design to delivery of developments around and above those stations, as well as optimising operations, commerce, and design in existing and new transport hubs.

Learn more:

Masterplanning and precinct development

We take a place-based approach to decision-making for rail projects.

Masterplanning and precinct development

When planned and delivered in the right way, railways offer major economic growth opportunities leading to transformational benefits for people, communities, economies and the environment.

We are helping transform Amsterdam's Zuidas district - providing a series of transport interventions to help drive economic regeneration, a completely new Amsterdam Zuid public transport hub.

We take a place-based approach to decision-making for rail projects. This means that every choice we take, from a route, station and design perspective is evaluated for its potential to drive economic prosperity, strengthen social connectivity, and regenerate urban and rural areas.

Masterplanning is the stage where vibrant and active precincts around stations can be designed and developed, ensuring the new infrastructure adds real value to the community it joins. Today, this means providing seamless connections to other modes of travel, adding market value through careful station design, precinct masterplanning and effective delivery.

To achieve this, stations need to embrace appropriate density and uses around transport interchanges. They need to consider movement around the station itself, with below and above ground connections between the stations and surrounding development. And the quality of open spaces around the stations is also a key factor.

Learn more:

Sacramento Valley Station Area Plan, California

Zuidasdok, Amsterdam

Stakeholder engagement

The success of any major rail scheme relies on bringing people on the journey with you.

Stakeholder engagement

The success of any major rail scheme relies on bringing people on the journey with you, gaining their trust and support and ultimately giving you license to get on with the job.

Visualisation of HS2 created by David Edge and team

Being able to bring to life the multifaceted aspects of any major rail scheme to ensure stakeholders are informed and are able to contribute to decision-making is essential. 

Whether you need to show design of stations or trains, hear the likely impact of noise to surrounding areas, understand the environmental impact along the route, or see development potential along the rail corridor we can visualise any aspect of a scheme to help you make the right decisions together with your key stakeholders early in the design process. 

We do this using our own, powerful technologies such as SoundLab and eLab, built by Arup’s visualisation and simulation experts. These tools help inform the consultation process by bringing proposals to life in spatial, visual and acoustic terms that the general public can understand.