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The Cambridge Dictionary defines Concourse as 'a large space or room in a public building such as a station or airport that people meet in or pass through'. This does sum up the function of this important spaces, however in actual practice this may be a slight difference in different systems.
©TFL, London. The Station Design Idiom
The TFL station design follows the literal concourse definition, which are spaces between various paths. Which generally also defines the station planning principles, where concourse connects platforms to Entrances, where ticketing also (generally) takes place (Hence ticketing hall)
Fig. Hub Concourse Diagram
Fig. Satellite Concourse
Following from Airport planning, station concourses is defined as below. This definition is supported by the assumption that mass transit system needs to have minimal number of staff, easy to operate and economical in both Capex/Opex. Meaning that a best concourse is one that has one ticket hall, enabling cheaper operation, etc. passenger wayfinding, etc.
Hub Concourse:
This type of concourse is a underground common areas, where ticketing function are managed, which is then served by few entrances
Satellite Concourse
Where the ticketing function are located in the entrance, where multiple entrances are linked to the platform. This is defined as satellite concourse.
For the above two example, as more and satellite/hub concourse are required, you need to have more staff and equipment, increasing operational cost, etc.
Fig. Hub Concourse
Fig. Satellite Concourse
3. Standard Concourse
This type of concourse is a typology when the whole area above the platform is used for ticketing, passenger linkage, etc. A standard that is common in Hong Kong, China, Bangkok, etc.
However in many systems, the concourse is for passengers only, not an urban connector. In which case this short sighted design is a huge travesty for the community. The middle configuration to the left illustrates this.
The lower configuration makes much more sense, where an unpaid link connect the station entrances, enabling the public to use the sheltered, air conditioned spaces as passage linking the urban spaces above
The discussion above is for underground station (Island platform) . If this is followed for elevated station, then the station planner needs to rethink such planning.....
The Elevated Station Concourse: I personally don't like Side platform, for what it does to the elevated station concourse below (Or above). Let me explain, side platforms have VT that comes down on the top and the bottom side of the concourse (Please see diagram below). This hem in the paid concourse, making it difficult for unpaid areas to link from left to the right; resulting in two hub concourses to the left and right, which are unconnected. Which for a transit station is undesirable as passengers will find this way finding difficult. Also many design has concourse arrangement like the sketch below. Where you can now only come to the station box from two point from the ground level, instead of using the four quadrants at ends of the station box; giving the maximum connectivities to the station.
When I see such station planning, I realise that more often than not, the Structutural Engineer (Or Viaduct Engineer) finds it challenging to design a transition structure connecting to the island platform, hence taking the tracks straight through - requiring a side platform. However many times you do need a side platform due to requiring a cross overs in the front of the station, etc. If not then overriding the greater good of a transportation building's needs - the public and transport connectivities, due to engineering reluctances is not recommended.
Fig. Diagrammatic Side Platform and Concourse Arrangement, over Street at ground level.
Fig. Same concourse shown above . With two corridor on the north and south side
The solution to the problem noted above is what I am proposing above. Swing in a flanking corridor and get the extra areas for connection.
How painful is that? Is this important. Of course it is.
The station box is almost 200m long, Why would you not want to connect the station to more surrounding buildings and streets?
The elevated station with its concourse over the ground could also be an urban connector and leverage ToD.
The Bangkok BTS Sukhumvit line along the Rama 1 Road section is a good example, where the under-croft footbridges also connect various station concourses (National Stadium, Siam, etc), to the street and the commercial building's podium level.
The picture to the right may not be the best examples. Or one who remembers the street before - could cry out to what it did to the streets? But sometimes transportantion needs trumps other concerns? Sure, this is debatable and a good answer is desirable.
Pic. View from Rama 1 Road to Siam Station, undercroft footbridges, entrances, etc.
ROLE OF A CONCOURSE
ROLE OF A CONCOURSE
I like the literal definition of the concourse as a place where 'people meet in or pass through'. In such intersection, we can we place many of the things that we need in a transit system, and a bit more. (Some of these req is shown above).
Concourse should also be a place where the general public can walk from one section of the city to the other, using the safe & weather controlled space provided by the transit system. should be able to link from one section of the city to another, without being a transit passenger. It also may mean that such path & concourse should also be open to the public 24/7.
On another view point, the Soviet's definition of the metro as the 'people's palace' is enabled in large parts by the wonderfully designed concourse. Where the architecture or the embellishment are so wonderful that this exudes a classical version of the palaces. Transit spaces could also be created a wonderful people's place, where one could take a break! bask in the lovely architecture, watch the art, listen to some piped music, perhaps a coffee... then be on your way?
However, I do think that transit system also needs to be more a self funding and not a drain on the goverment budget; so if the two goals of Architecture and ROI is managed, that is the holy grail.
Pic. An Ad hoc arrangement of security screening
Some Side Requirements
Security Scanner is used in many systems around the world. Which has the following ramifications:
Such control point needs to be installed in all potential control point. It takes up substantial space and makes installation difficult in smaller entrances, concourses, etc.
Many times these are not designed into the system area requirements at the onset, hence becomes hards to fit later in the design sages.
Has an impact on passenger sizing time, particularly at the patronage, peak in peak periods
Photographic Examples of Station Concourse
Photographic Examples of Station Concourse
Bangkok Metro, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center Concourse
2. Shanghai Metro - Line 7 - Changshou Road Concourse
3. HK MTR Central Station Concourse
4. Woodlands North MRT Concourse. Singapore
Commentary:
Pic 1 Bangkok, Pic 2 Shanghai, Pic 3 Hong Kong. Similar typology. UG Concourse above Platform.
Thai and Chinese transit has large concourse, only used as passage, fare gates, ticketing support & public toilet. Station box cut and cover.
MTR in HK. Used as passage, fare gates, ticketing support & public toilet.+ retail. Station box cut and cover.
Pic 4. Singapore MRT, Double height space, some areas attributed to station passage. Station DNA from UK, Europe. Station box cut and cover.
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