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Alistair Lenczner

Northern cities should emulate the German “Hauptbahnhof” planning model.

UK’s new railway planning must avoid historic British habits, says independent planning consultant Alistair Lenczner 

The recently published One North report for an “interconnected North” could herald an era for a significant transformation of the transport networks connecting England’s northern cities. However, whilst the stated aims of the One North proposal are to be commended, there is a risk that the railway network of the northern cities could repeat the sub-optimum planning of the 19th century if its proposals do not fully integrate all public transport systems including HS2. 

The present day railway networks of the northern cities are the legacy of 19th century railway planning. With no strategic transport planning at the time, individual private railway companies built separate networks with each typically having its own station within the centre of the same city centre.

Bold and joined-up thinking will be needed by transport planners and politicians alike if future generations of Northerners are to inherit the optimised transport network they deserve.    

The lack of inter-connectivity between multiple central stations and rail networks meant that the total combined network of the railway was sub-optimal from the rail passenger viewpoint as journeys often required travelers to transfer between stations to reach an end destination.

Although railway networks were modified into the 20th century to compensate for the shortcomings within the initial networks, sub-standard interconnectivities inherited from the initial railway planning still persist today.

The initial railway planning of Britain’s northern cities contrasts with that of Germany’s large cities in terms of city centre stations. Most German cities were provided with a single central station acting as the hub of the regional passenger network.

This “Hauptbahnhof” model can be seen in Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne, Hamburg and Dusseldorf amongst others. The railway network focus on the single Hauptbahnhof means that connectivity is optimized from a passenger viewpoint with easy interchange between all rail and public transport systems. (Intercity trains, Regional trains, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, Trams, buses).   

As One North proposals are taken forward, early consideration needs to be given as to how and where optimized interconnectivity between transport systems, including HS2, is best achieved from a passenger perspective. Ideally each city should have a consolidated “Hauptbahnhof” type station as the recognized hub for all public transport. However, current HS2 plans suggest that new in Leeds and Sheffield will be separate from the existing stations serving these cities. Is Britain going to repeat the sub-optimal railway planning of the 19th century?

The One North proposal highlights the importance of integrating the new HS2 at Leeds into the existing Leeds Station. In this respect, placing the new HS2 platforms on the site immediately to the north of Leeds City Station would seem a better solution than the detached New Lane Station location.   

Constraints at city destinations linked within the One North plan mean that the creation of “Hauptbahnhof” style stations in established hub locations could be more expensive than other solutions, especially if significant tunneling is needed.

However, the best long-term value into the next century is likely to achieved through station solutions that best optimise interconnectivity for passengers.

Bold and joined-up thinking will be needed by transport planners and politicians alike if future generations of Northerners are to inherit the optimised transport network they deserve.    

 

Alistair Lenczner is an independent planning consultant