LeShuttle, the company providing cross-English Channel rail services for vehicles, has revealed its plans to upgrade its English and French terminals, which it says will reduce stress and enhance flow.
The upgrades will take five years, but LeShuttle said this will not disrupt the operations of the transport service by carrying out the works in phases of construction.
The company said the check-in canopy “is designed to be installed sequentially, with temporary structures and weather protection in place to maintain comfort and flow inside the terminal during key refurbishment phases.”
Hollaway Studio is the designer and is working in collaboration with customer service experience specialists Engine. Together, they aim to create “a modern, seamless, efficient, sustainable and intuitive experience, setting a new standard for LeShuttle customers and reshaping the journey for millions of travellers.”
Upgrades designed to reduce stress deliver ‘exceptional journeys’
LeShuttle said in a statement on 9 September that it has big ambitions for the development, which will put “service and experience” at the heart of the project, and will have “sustainability built in”.
The key features will include a landscaped outdoor pet area for a more dog-friendly experience; a redesigned food hall with expanded, contemporary dining options; greener, calmer spaces with improved daylight, seating and acoustics; a seamless check-in process with better weather protection and upgraded booths; and “future-facing” passenger terminal buildings with redesigned ticketing.
The company said it has a vision “to move from a purely functional transport service to a more emotionally engaging and customer-centric experience – one that ‘shapes exceptional journeys.’
“From smarter layouts to improved amenities, these developments are set to reduce stress, enhance flow, and offer customers a place they will actively want to spend time.”
Sustainability will form a “key part” of the project, with solar panels installed “across the entire roof of the arrival canopy and Passenger Terminal Buildings.
New façades will be installed, inspired by the geological strata between which the Channel Tunnel was originally dug. These will “combine innovative design with strong environmental performance,” LeShuttle said.
In addition, as part of the company’s commitment to sustainability, the project “will preserve and reuse existing structures wherever possible to reduce embodied carbon and long-term running costs.
“Prefabricated modules will be used to streamline construction and maintain a smooth travel experience during the improvements – a critical factor for LeShuttle’s 24/7 operations”, the company said.
Project leaders say upgrades will enhance travel experience
LeShuttle chief commercial officer Deborah Merrens said: “This is a significant moment for LeShuttle. We are setting ourselves up for the next 30 years by completely rethinking the arrival experience, focusing on ease, enjoyment and a greener future.
“The terminal is the first thing customers see, and we want to switch them into holiday mode from the very first step.”
“We’re proud to be creating a space that works for today’s travellers and anticipates tomorrow’s – from families and pet owners to business users and EV (electric vehicle) drivers. It’s a major step forward for the brand, and one we’re excited to bring to life.”
Hollaway Studio principal partner Guy Hollaway said: “Our vision was to reimagine LeShuttle not just as a point of departure, but as a destination in its own right – an intuitive, calming environment that enhances the travel experience and reflects the innovation behind this extraordinary infrastructure.”
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