Engineering design of the platform edge screens for the Elizabeth line's tunnel stations

This paper covers the engineering design of the platform edge screens for five Elizabeth line tunnel stations in central London. Full-height platform edge screens are a signature feature of the Elizabeth line’s station platforms, and their design presented many challenges. To gain maximum uniformity, the edge screens were developed as a common reference design, which was then issued to each of the station contractors. The paper describes the technical challenges from the point of view of a structural engineer, but in doing so, it draws in interfaces with disciplines as diverse as tunnel ventilation, electrical engineering, and rolling stock procurement. The reference design approach allowed unique features of the platform edge screens to be prototyped and tested before construction.