Planning & Design of Railway Facilities Inspiring the Development of Asian Cities

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Urbanization has moved forward at a fast clip in cities in Asia in recent years. Chronic traffic congestion and air pollution due to people’s reliance on cars have become serious problems in these cities along with population and economic growth. TOD (Transit Oriented Development) is an effective way to solve these types of problems and enhance the sustainability of cities. TOD, or in other words, the integrated development of stations with a city, is a type of station-oriented urban development based on the use of public transportation systems. One of Japan’s fortes, TOD has been used for developing cities around the construction of railways for over a century.

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Station square on the east side of Kawasaki Station in Kanagawa Prefecture (2008)
Symbolic square using the shade of trees to its advantage. The roof covering the entire bus station has improved convenience and comfort at this public transportation facility.

The Civil Engineering Group, Urban and Civil Project Department, Nikken Sekkei (hereinafter called "Civil Engineering Group") has planned and designed a number of railway facilities, including stations, station squares and underground malls connecting stations to surrounding areas. We use our extensive experience and the comprehensive technical capabilities to provide support to TOD projects in Asia. Below are a few of the technologies and expertise we can propose from a large- and small-scale perspective.

<Large-scale: Perspectives from inside the city>
Designing stations as highly-convenient transit nodes

To encourage people to use public transportation instead of their own cars, the alternative must be more convenient for users. This is where the transfer function of a station as a transportation node becomes important. It is essential to consider the ease of transferring between rail lines at the station and the other modes of transportation used to move around a city. The added installation of underground car and/or bicycle parking will also help improve convenience. We aim to break away from our current dependence on vehicles in today’s car-centric society by organically connecting multiple modes of transportation using the station as a base.

Image of configuration of transportation node Image of configuration of transportation node

Pedestrian network with easy access to surrounding areas

Underground walkways and above-ground pedestrian decks are constructed to provide pedestrians with easy access from stations to buildings and other locations in surrounding areas. In coordination with private capital, pedestrian walkways are lined with commercial shops to form underground malls, creating amenities to people on the move. This type of welcoming pedestrian network may lead to an increase in the number of people using public transportation and increase the movement of pedestrians to surrounding areas, which will revitalize the local economy and increase the real estate value of surrounding buildings.

Underground mall around Ben Thanh Station (Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam)
The subway station and surrounding area will be connected via the underground mall to form a pedestrian network and revitalize the local area.

Station square creating a lively atmosphere and breathing new life into the community

Station squares are a hub of movement for the many people who use railways and transportation, such as buses, taxis and private cars. In addition to its role in smoothly guiding people where they want to go, the station square also serves as the face of the community and the center of interaction between people. If a station square is developed in coordination with the surrounding area as an attractive space offering multifunctional services, it will naturally create a lively atmosphere, which will spread to the surrounding area and act as a catalyst to bring the area to life.

Station square at Himeji Station in Hyogo Prefecture (2015)
This three-dimensional square, organically linked both under and aboveground, has become an oasis where people gather.

<Small-scale: Expert technical perspectives>
Station design as a local symbol

Stations are the front door to a community, requiring designs and spatial formations that are in balance with the area. For example, if there are a number of historical buildings in the vicinity, a traditional design may be used; if the station is near a river, a waterfront-inspired design may be used. In the case of a central station, a modern design that paints a picture of the development of the city itself may be used. In addition, symbolic public spaces, such as atriums, can be installed in stations to emphasize its role as the center of a city.

  • Opera House Station (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
    The station, which is close to the Municipal Theatre is designed to provide a sense of history

  • Ba Son Station (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
    Design inspired by a nearby river

Ground deformation and earthquake safety measures

The large-scale excavation required to construct subway stations and underground malls can cause ground deformations in the surrounding area, which may also affect adjacent buildings. To prevent this, we conduct a detailed analysis of the ground and temporary structures to ensure that construction work is carried out safely. We also conduct structural analyses on the main body of buildings for earthquakes in accordance with Japanese standards and local standards to determine the need for seismic reinforcement, which ensures both a high level of safety and rationality.

Analysis of ground deformation and damage to components in an earthquake
Analysis of the level of damage caused by ground deformation in an earthquake to implement a rational structural design and ensure a high level of safety

Temporary structures during underground excavation work
Flexible adaptation to local ground conditions and use of geotechnical technology allows excavation work to be safely carried out deep underground.

Fire and flooding safety measures

Because they are enclosed spaces, subway stations and underground malls fill with smoke faster than those aboveground and carry higher risks in a fire. In addition to the use of non-flammable materials to furnish interiors, designs employ the use of two-step descending systems for evacuation route shutters, and fire-proof compartments are installed to seal off fire areas. Underground flooding measures are also essential in Asia, where the risk of flooding is high due to heavy rainfall and overflowing rivers. We conduct flooding analyses and evacuation simulations and install flood protection panels at entrances or raise on-ground structures above flooding levels.

Fire measures
Advanced disaster prevention design technology, such as the adoption of a two-step descending shutter design to protect people evacuating from smoke and fire

Flooding measures
Installation of flood prevention panels and proper evacuation guidance to prevent damage from flooding

There has been a change in the way people live as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Urban functions are expected to be transformed in the future, with the features of each region taking on a sharper edge. As a result, it will be important to determine what railway facilities are truly needed in each area. In addition, the planning and design of these facilities will need to be flexible so that they can be updated in response to future changes in cities.

The Nikken Group are experts in urban planning, architectural design and civil engineering design. Our strength lies in our ability to provide TOD solutions by integrating the knowledge and expertise of the entire Nikken Sekkei Group. We will continue in our endeavor to propose plans and designs for railway facilities to support the changing cities of Asia.

Photo 2:Station square on the east side of Kawasaki Station in Kanagawa Prefecture, Kai Nakamura
Photo 3:Station square at Himeji Station in Hyogo Prefecture, ＠shuntaro

Seiji Nishiyama

Seiji Nishiyama
Director Head of Infrastructure Div.

Mr. Nishiyama joined Nikken Sekkei Ltd. after graduating with a degree in civil engineering from the Graduate School of Engineering at Osaka University in 1993 and transferred to Nikken Sekkei Civil Engineering Ltd. in 2001. In 1995, he was seconded to the Railway Technical Research Institute where he worked for four years on the development of Design Standards for Railway Structures and Commentary. Later, he was engaged in the seismic design of various high-speed railway structures and subway station design projects. He is currently working on design quality assurance in overseas railway projects as a quality verification expert. In recent years, he has been engaged in the integrated design of buildings and railway structures in Japan, with a focus on the role of bridging the gaps between architectural design and civil engineering in highly-challenging projects.

Tatsuo Yamada
Senior Civil Engineer
Overseas Project Team.
Infrastructure Div.

Mr. Yamada joined Nikken Sekkei Civil Engineering Ltd. in 2002 after graduating from the Graduate School of Engineering at Kyoto University where he was first assigned to the Urban Facilities Design Division. He was involved in the design of elevated railway structures, aseismic retrofit, and preliminary design on a project to grade separated crossings in Japan, and also took part in the design of station squares. In recent years, Mr. Yamada has been responsible for the structural design of subway stations for overseas ODA projects in Ho Chi Minh in Viet Nam, Mumbai in India and Manila in Philippines. He collaborated with Nikken Sekkei Ltd. on the technical design of stations in Ho Chi Minh and Mumbai project.

Masayuki Muraki

Masayuki Muraki
Overseas Project Team.
Infrastructure Div.

After graduating with a degree in civil and environmental engineering from the Graduate School of Engineering at the Nagoya Institute of Technology, Mr. Muraki joined Nikken Sekkei Civil Engineering Ltd. in 2008, where he was engaged in the architectural design of factory buildings in Japan. In his third year with the company, he became involved in planning for subway stations and underground malls in Ho Chi Minh in Viet Nam. During his almost five-year residency in Ho Chi Minh, he was responsible for the architectural design of the Ben Thanh, Opera House and Ba Son underground stations, and coordinated the technical design of these stations in collaboration with Nikken Sekkei Ltd. and other overseas consultants. Since then, he has been involved in the design of underground stations for overseas ODA projects on a high-speed railway in Mumbai, India and subway in Manila, Philippines.

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