Why railways benefit from shelters

What could be worse – passengers are waiting for a train in the cold, it starts to rain and there’s an announcement that the next train will be delayed, or even cancelled? This isn’t much fun for any rail user, and it could even drive more passengers into using their cars instead for future journeys.

However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Simply installing railways shelters at stations can make the experience of waiting for a train much more enjoyable and comfortable. Here’s why railways can benefit from having shelters on their platforms.

Protection from the weather

Easily the best reason for installing railways shelters is to keep passengers dry and warm while they’re waiting for a train. The shelter can prevent them from getting wet when it starts to rain, and it can keep them safe if the platform is icy or slippery.

Many stations, especially those in rural locations, can be isolated and often exposed to the wind, so having a shelter to escape to whilst waiting for the train can be a godsend for those passengers waiting at country stations.

As well as protecting passengers from the cold, wind and rain, on hot, sunny days, shelters can be useful for escaping the sun beating down, providing some welcoming shade.

Comfortable experience

If you’d like to make the experience of waiting for a train a comfortable and relaxing one for passengers, providing an enclosed shelter with seating can make all the difference. Many passengers who may be frail, have disabilities or those travelling with babies and young children will appreciate being able to sit and take shelter in a warm, comfortable and dry space while waiting for their train. This can enhance the travel experience, ensuring passengers will continue to use your services again.

Waiting for a train can sometimes be a boring experience for some passengers, especially little ones, so having a shelter that also boasts USB charging sockets can be useful to keep youngsters entertained with technical gadgets. It can also be handy for business people.

Safe and secure

Railways shelters provide a safe and secure place for passengers to wait for their trains. Shelters are usually fitted with lighting, so when it’s dark outside, passengers can remain in the safe confines of the shelter until their train arrives. Thanks to having lighting in the shelters, waiting passengers can also pass the time away by reading if they wish.

Plus, with passengers using the shelter when it’s dark outside, rather than waiting on the platform, there’s less chance of anyone having an accident on the platform, such as slipping or falling on the tracks.

Those shelters that have a ticket machine inside will also feel safer to use for passengers, especially when it’s dark outside, and being able to see what they’re doing whilst purchasing a ticket will make the experience more convenient for rail users.

Improved facilities

Having a railway shelter on a platform or around a station can help to improve the facilities offered to passengers, making the station a more popular one to use. A shelter also increases the aesthetics of a railway station, especially since many modern shelters boast stylish and attractive designs.

Protective

A railway shelter not only keeps passengers safe and protected, but it can also ensure that items inside the shelter are protected from the elements, thus preventing them from succumbing to damage and having a reduced lifespan. This includes items such as seating, as well as train information boards, monitors with train times and even ticket machines. This means that a railway shelter not only benefits train users but the railway company itself, by protecting equipment.

Long-lasting

Having a railway shelter installed makes for a worthwhile investment for railway companies, as the structures last a long time and are guaranteed to get a lot of use. In particular, if you choose a leading manufacturer of shelters that offers high-quality, robust structures, you can be assured of a shelter that will be especially durable.

Various design options

Railway shelters come in all shapes and sizes, so the good news is that rail firms can choose a specific style and configuration to suit their requirements. Whether they want a modern or traditional style of shelter, a flat or curved roof, a small or large one, one with a specific frame colour, or various seating configurations, there are lots of options available to meet the needs of each client.

Shelters can also come with different glazing options, and unlike the old-fashioned style of bus shelters, the modern shelters made today use tough, safety glass which prevents vandals from being able to smash it.

Eco-friendly

Even better, for those rail firms that like to make eco-friendly choices as much as possible, some shelter manufacturers use recycled materials and have sustainable production methods, ensuring shelters are as green as possible.

It’s also possible to get a railway shelter fitted with solar roof panels so that the lighting for the shelter can be harnessed in an environmentally-friendly way, reducing energy costs in the process.

Marketing opportunities

As well as all of the many practical benefits that railway shelters bring, these protective waiting rooms can be effectively used as a way to market or advertise promotions or offers, or by providing important information.

By placing notices on the windows or including advertising boards, you could detail offers about specific train deals or other messages. Since passengers will congregate in the shelter and be there for long enough to notice the adverts, this is a great way to capture their attention.

Plus, choosing a specific colour for the frame of the shelter can help to tie in with a rail firm’s branding colour, making the shelter look smart, but also become part of its marketing infrastructure.

If you’d like to take advantage of the many benefits of having railway shelters at your train station, speak with the experts at Ace Shelters to discover all of the different options available to you. Get in touch today