Accessibility for the 19th century Naarden-Bussum railway station, Netherlands

This paper addresses the design and the construction of elevators in a historic (listed) station building in the Netherlands. The initial challenge was to preserve the architectural qualities of the station building while at the same time making the station suitable for persons with reduced mobility. The choices made in the conceptual design phase posed significant challenges in the subsequent project phases. The geotechnical conditions at the site contributed to major setbacks during the construction phase. The problems faced fighting the high groundwater level have striking similarities with the challenges a century ago when the passenger subway was built. Modern engineering solutions have been adopted to carry out the works without disrupting the train service while preserving the historical and architectural values of the building. After decades of discussion and planning, the elevators were successfully put in operation in 2014. People with reduced mobility and passengers with luggage travelling to the nearby Schiphol international airport can now use the station without negotiating staircases.