Spatial Layout Planning in Sub-Surface Rail Station Design for Effective Fire Evacuation

INTRODUCTION Underground stations can broadly be divided into two methods of construction: cut and cover (i.e. excavating a trench and recovering) and tunnelling. The station layout is mostly comprised of the areas that are common to all stations and their spatial planning must be set out with a thorough understanding of passenger circulation patterns. The station components, namely the ticket hall, escalators, concourses, platforms, etc. all interact and connect in a coherent, logical manner with the principal aim of transporting customers to/away from trains as quickly and efficiently as possible. However, achieving this aim must not be detrimental to passenger safety, which is paramount in station design (Smith et al, 2003). London has the largest, oldest and one of the most complex underground railway systems in the world, dating back to 1863. It has an excellent passenger safety record, with its most notable tragic events taking place at the King’s Cross fire in November 1987 and in the terrorist attacks of July 2005. The standards and regulations through which London Underground (LU) operates its fire strategies for station design approvals are as follows: