Daisy Chapman-Chamberlain
Regular columnist Daisy Chapman-Chamberlain explores the role rail can play in improving the health and wellbeing of passengers and their wider communities.
When we think of wellbeing, we tend to think of the direct interventions we can do to ensure people feel secure and healthy. Physical movement, mental health awareness and therapy, mindfulness, and medication all play a role, alongside so many other options.
However, in rail, we often create environments which run contrary to enabling wellbeing and good mental health. Catching the train can, unfortunately, be a source of great stress and negative emotion. Delays, cancellations, crowding, and unpleasant environments, though in many cases difficult or impossible to prevent, all contribute to a lack of wellbeing and we can all name a station we’d hate to have to spend any amount of time in.
But what role can and could rail play in enabling and facilitating higher levels of wellbeing? Punctuality of services, availability of seats, and provision of real-time information are some obvious answers, but digging deeper the role of design and architecture presents a constant ‘background’ opportunity for rail to uplift people, staff, and communities.
Attitudes to beauty
The report ‘People and places: Public attitudes to beauty’, for the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, found that:
“Beauty in the built environment was seen as being important for civic pride and for attracting people to an area. They believe that beauty is important in their local area and there is a strong consensus for striving for more beauty in neighbourhoods, towns and cities.
“Beauty in place is recognised as not evenly distributed. Where there is less, it is seen as part of depravation; people can and do pay more to live in areas which are more beautiful. Beauty in place is also seen as part of a cycle of respect, it can make people respect an area more, and by being respected, an area can retain its beauty.”
Many of us would immediately be able to name stations which we think are beautiful, from the incredible revival of King’s Cross to small, yet perfectly formed examples such as Ribblehead station, architecturally appealing spaces engender pride in the local area, can reduce vandalism and antisocial behaviour, and can even have a positive impact on metal health and wellbeing.
Biophilic design (design which is linked to natural forms and nature) can help to reduce stress, improve cognitive function, lower blood pressure, and increase overall feelings of happiness for humans occupying a space. Features of biophilic architecture range from planted areas to large windows allowing for natural light and living plant walls, alongside the use of materials such as wood and stone, or even water features, to bring nature indoors.
Encouraging movement
Beyond mental wellbeing, good design can also impact and enhance our physical health. By shaping rail spaces with open areas and consideration for natural passenger flows which encourage exploration, as well as onward wayfinding for active travel options and access to nature, we can enable higher levels of movement which benefit physical health for users.
Rail has a direct role to play in encouraging movement. Many Community Rail groups around the UK organise and promote rail-accessible walks and cycling paths, allowing those who are perhaps less confident in planning journeys to access natural spaces. An excellent example of this is Northern’s Yorkshire Dales Explorer route (previously known as DalesRail).
This Saturday service connects Rochdale, Manchester, Salford, Bolton, and Clitheroe with Settle and the Yorkshire Dales. The route connects communities to walking opportunities and stunning natural landscapes, as well as the chance to view the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct, along with the option to walk the route in a social setting with the Lancashire Rail Ramblers and/or the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line groups.
Social spaces
Stations themselves can also be social spaces rather than just centres for moving people from A to B. By designing in communal areas, rail can play a crucial role in promoting social interaction, contributing to the vital agenda to reduce loneliness in many of our communities (multiple studies have found that involvement with community groups and activities can drastically reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness for people of all ages).
An excellent example of this is Irlam Railway station. After the station sat derelict for almost a century, the Station House was sensitively restored by local charity Hamilton Davies Trust and is now not only a stunning example of architectural restoration in rail, but also features a café and bar, displays of artwork and rail heritage, and rentable spaces for community groups and events. It also hosts the voluntary ‘Friends of Irlam Station’ group.
Beyond beauty
Even when we look at rolling stock design, well-designed train interiors can contribute to not only feelings of calm and positive mental health, but also feelings of pride in culture and heritage. ÖBB wanted to use its new Nightjet service to recreate the sense of adventure associated with the heyday of continental rail travel, and so the new rolling stock was built to look and feel representative of Austria – a rail offer with a distinct sense of place and a clear identity that reflects Austrian cultural and craft heritage through materials, colours, and iconography.
Beautiful railway architecture is more than just visually appealing – it plays a vital role in shaping the health and wellbeing of our communities, passengers, and staff. While cost pressures can force difficult decisions to reduce available spaces and maximise commercial value, we must ensure the wider wellbeing agenda is not neglected.
By prioritising design to enable inclusion, reduce stress, and facilitate connections to the natural world as well as social opportunities, well-designed railway stations can have a profound and lasting impact on the people who interact with and use them.
About the author: Daisy Chapman-Chamberlain is specification manager at Transport for the North. She focusses on improving transport systems, accessibility, safety, and beyond. She is also chairperson of the Oxfordshire Community Rail Partnership. Daisy can be reached via LinkedIn.
Image credit: iStockphoto.com/AmArtPhotography
