Laser precision proved to be just the ticket in the redevelopment
of Telford’s bus station where the latest GEZE technology has combined
efficiency with passenger safety.
The travel hub - part of the Telford Shopping Centre - has
undergone a £1.9 million refurbishment and transformed an “out-of-date”
terminus to a light and airy atrium geared to improve passenger experience.
The new Telford Bus Station separates the transport and customer
areas with a bank of automatic doors powered by the GEZE Slimdrive SL NT
operators. Each set of doors is fitted with a GEZE laser scanner LZR® sensor –
a new product devised for use in environments that have specific and demanding
requirements.
The movement sensors provide a
three-dimensional protection of the monitored area which initiate door openings
at the optimum time. This is a massive boon to passenger safety as the
automatic doors stay closed – activated only when the bus is parked and in
position.
This protects passengers from wandering into the area when bus
manoeuvres are taking place.
As LZR scanners are fitted to the doors they are easier to install
and are more aesthetically pleasing than sensor loops which need to be embedded
into the ground and sealed with bitumen in order to install. Sensor loops also
deteriorate over time and can be expensive and awkward to replace.
They not only make an ideal safety barrier but also add to the
improved aesthetic of the station. With a height of just 7cm – Slimdrive SL NT
operators are almost invisible, virtually silent in operation and can move leaf
weights of up to 125kg. They are ideal for buildings with high levels of
footfall and a continuous flow of people heading in and out of the building.
Integrated within the shopping centre, the bus station acts as a
‘hub and spoke’ operation for the borough’s transport network and is intended
to boost economic growth by encouraging increasing visitor numbers into to the
town and providing an “attractive gateway”.
The re-development is a partnership between Telford Shopping
Centre, Arriva and Telford & Wrekin Council which secured £1.3 million for
the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership towards the improved bus station
facility.
The improvements are part of a wider programme of expansion and
modernisation costing £200 million and coincided with Telford 50 – the golden
anniversary of the creation of Telford as a new town.
Andy Howland, Sales and Marketing Director for GEZE UK: “The
redevelopment of Telford Bus Station has significantly improved the facilities
for commuters using public transport and making it a pleasurable experience.
“We are delighted that GEZE technology has helped bring about some
of this change and delivered a solution that is effective, efficient and brings
real benefits to bus station operations and the people who use such an
important transport hub.”
Matt Powell, network and transport group manager at Telford &
Wrekin Council: “The provision of intelligent access solutions at bus loading
points was a key part of improving safety in the new building. The solution
provided has been a great success, and helped us meet this objective without
any manual intervention.”
