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The travel hub – part of the Telford Shopping Centre – has undergone a £1.9 million refurbishment and transformed an “out-of-date” terminus to a light and airy atrium geared to improve passenger experience.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.”
For more information about GEZE UK’s comprehensive range of automatic and manual door closers call 01543 443000 or visit www.geze.co.uk
