Ede-Wageningen station undergoes real metamorphosis

Ede-Wageningen station is undergoing a metamorphosis. The EdesPoort consortium is laying new platforms, tracks, tunnels, viaducts and the new station building with platform roofing. Roy Tijssen, assistant project manager at Van Wijnen and Mark van der Graaf, project manager of the EdesPoort consortium, talk about the project and the challenges.

It was time for a renewal of Ede-Wageningen station and its immediate surroundings. Commissioned by ProRail, working together with the municipality of Ede and NS, contractor combination EdesPoort is taking care of the realization of this challenging area development. The contractor combination consists of VolkerWessels Infrastructure (Van Hattum en Blankevoort and VolkerRail) and Van Wijnen. "A lot had to be done and that required all parties and their specific knowledge and expertise," Tijssen says. "Van Wijnen is realizing the construction of the station building, the platform canopy and the 40-meter-high station tower. VolkerRail is doing the track work and Van Hattum & Blankevoort is picking up the civil works, such as a bridge for slow traffic and various underpasses."

Tunnels, bridges and roads

The project began in April 2021, and from January 2022 work began on site. "We started by pre-building the new passenger tunnel. In a major train-free period (TVP) of 26 days, we then replaced 3 km of track and track cables. Also during that period, the new 8,000-ton tunnel was pushed into place. The tunnel was moved about 100 meters. Then the tracks were rebuilt so that the trains could run again as soon as possible," Tijssen says. 

In addition to this passenger tunnel, a bridge has also been constructed east of the station, Van der Graaf says. "This is located 800 meters east of the station and is only suitable for cyclists and pedestrians. Finally, on the west side there will also be a tunnel connecting to the bicycle network. This will be commissioned during a TVP in the summer of 2024. Urban planning has been and is being done to make an attractive area for cyclists, and this is a great example of that."

The station building and platform canopy.

The contractor consortium is now working on the station building and finishing the platform canopy, Tijssen explained: "After the big TVP in August 2022, there was room to start construction of the station building. We could also start assembling the platform canopy on the pre-construction site. It is a station building with three layers of bicycle parking and commercial spaces. In November 2023, the station building will be completed." 

The platform canopy is special, he says. "It consists of 23 large triangles made of wooden, laminated beams. The triangles are 27 x 27 x 27 meters in size. We pre-assembled the triangles and laid them in place over the track during two TVPs. The canopy extends into the station building and the clock tower next to it." 

Challenges

The biggest challenges were in planning and logistics. Van der Graaf explains, "The time frame was quite tight. As a result, we had to be creative to do everything within the set periods. Train traffic has to be completely shut down - and you want to minimize those periods as much as possible because travelers are affected." Tijssen adds: "In the 'rail' world, quite a lot is fixed. Add to that the technical challenges (bearing capacity, bridging, existing objects, sliding in the tunnel) and the timeframe, and you're faced with a major challenge." Van der Graaf: "Logistically, it was quite an operation. In the end, it all worked out because we made smart use of the available space. By building on the site of the new station square first the tunnel, then the canopy and finally the square, it worked out well!"

Next February is the "turnaround" says Van der Graaf. "From Tuesday to Friday there will be no trains then, because the new station will be put into operation."