The move into prefabricated construction is a first for a major client, and is linked to meeting the efficiency and cost targets set out in last year's Egan report.
A Railtrack source said the cost of modular stations, at about £400/m2 is "ridiculously low". This is up to one-third less than conventional on-site construction.
A Railtrack spokesperson declined to discuss details, but confirmed that the company was involved in a series of pilot schemes: "It is something we're looking at. We've got a couple of prototypes in the Great Western area."
The system, which includes a platform, station furniture and modular station buildings, is being offered by Leeds-based Raildeck Systems. A prototype is under construction at Whitehall Station in Leeds, with Raildeck supplying the platform and local prefab specialist Yorkon the buildings.
Two 9-tonne buildings will house a customer waiting room, toilets and staff accommodation. They will be transported by road and placed on site by crane. A source at Railtrack said: "The cost of transporting by rail would be prohibitive." Railtrack is also planning to trial the system at Brough in Cumbria and Ludlow in south Shropshire, where work is due to start on site in the next four months.
Under Railtrack's £27bn, 10-year investment programme announced in March, more than 60 new stations are planned, some of which could be prefabricated.
Refurbishment of existing stations is covered by a separate regeneration budget. This amounts to £1bn and will be spent on Railtrack's 2500 existing stations between 1997 and 2001.
The Railtrack source said: "The modular stations are being considered as replacements for older out-of-town stations that are becoming major hubs on the edge of towns as the towns expand." He added that modularised construction offered a number of advantages. "The system's developers are offering financing packages to lease complete stations – including platforms and buildings – under a design, build, finance and operate package. This gives Railtrack the option of concentrating its capital on keeping the trains running on time."
A source at Raildeck said: "The platform system could offer Railtrack a 25% tax break because it can be moved and is therefore classed as a temporary structure."
Railtrack is understood to be looking at other modular construction, including timber frame.
