Using TRC as an Environmentally Effective Alternative for Subtle Elements of Railway Furniture

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents the possibilities of an innovative and aesthetic solution of furniture from concrete for railway stations. At present, the railways in the Czech Republic undergo significant changes. Due to automation and centralization there is a lot of stations without permanent staff. Thus the need for railway station furniture, that exhibits considerable resistance to damage during the intense operation and deliberate vandalism, is raising. Currently, the most used material is metal. Such equipment is expensive and requires constant maintenance. Current concrete furniture is too massive, heavy and usually has a lack of aesthetic or architectonic appearance. The paper presents some results of research and development of the new, modern solution based on the use of concrete to form aesthetic furniture elements, while saving consumption of concrete and maintaining the required parameters and dealing with deliberate destruction. Reduction of concrete as a second most used material is one of the key factor of this solution focusing sustainability goals. This paper thus also presents the environmental analysis and comparison with standard solution.