Overview
The project at Market Harborough Railway Station involved replacing the temporary toilet and waiting facilities on the northbound platform, which had been in place for over two years. The new facilities not only provided modern, permanent amenities for passengers but also included important upgrades to the access ramp and canopy, enhancing both accessibility and safety. These changes were designed to meet the increasing demands of the station, improving passenger comfort and overall functionality.
JNP was responsible for the design of the new building, addressing both structural and aesthetic aspects. From a structural standpoint, JNP ensured the facilities were durable, safe, and met all regulatory standards. Aesthetically, the design was crafted to blend seamlessly with the station’s historic character while introducing contemporary elements that enhanced the passenger experience. This combination of form and function transformed the station, offering a welcoming and modern space for travellers.
Project Solutions
The project at Market Harborough Railway Station faced several challenges, including the constrained site location, tight build timeline, and the need to interface the new building with the existing platform infrastructure. To address these, the building was relocated slightly to avoid existing infrastructure obstructing the entrance. The construction method was modified, using an SFS framing system instead of traditional cavity walls, speeding up the erection of the walls and roof. To match the floor level of the new building with the platform, mass fill ground-bearing strip foundations and reinforced concrete ground beams were used to avoid disturbing the existing platform foundations. Additionally, a shorter, shallower drainage solution was implemented by connecting to an existing manhole, avoiding the need for a lengthy drain run. These solutions ensured the project was completed efficiently while overcoming key site constraints.
Summary
JNP Group delivered designs for a new building that included a waiting room and toilet facilities that adhered to commuters’ needs along with regulatory standards. The designs encompassed the historic character of the existing station to provide a building that is aesthetically pleasing and provides enhanced accessibility, passenger safety, and overall functionality to a modern standard.
Client Feedback
“We’re committed to delivering better journeys, stations and experiences for our passengers. This work brings together the package of improvements we’ve implemented at Market Harborough in recent years to truly transform train travel in the town.” (Gary Walsh, East Midlands Route Director, Network Rail)
“The new building looks very smart and adds a splash of colour to our rather monochrome station”
Gallery
JNP Group Project Team
Project Manager: Dan Artis – Associate
Project Team: Richard Sunderland – Principal Structural/Rail Technician & Adam Shepherd – Principle Structural Engineer
Client: CML
Project Value: £1.2m
Sector: Rail
Services Provided
- Setting out and GA
- Foundations
- Steelwork Design
- Drainage
- Construction Details
Challenges
- The site was constricted, and the building needed to be relocated due to existing infrastructure.
- Ensuring the building was as weathertight as quickly as possible.
- Aligning floor levels where front foundations couldn’t be ground bearing due to existing rear wall foundations.
- Installing a 100 m foul drain to connect new toilets to a deep manhole cover in the public highway.
Solutions
- Building relocated north to avoid entrance obstruction due to existing infrastructure.
- Build time reduced by switching from cavity walls to SFS framing for faster enclosure.
- Combining mass fill strip foundations and RC ground beams to prevent overloading existing platform.
- Existing manhole integrated with shallow drain run for outfall.
