Kungsbacka Station..

A new fiberglass platform at Kungsbacka Station.

A train platform should ideally remain where it was built. But Newton had a point—what goes up must come down sooner or later. At Kungsbacka Station, the existing platform had sunk, resulting in a much too large height difference between the trains and the platform. Not exactly ideal when hundreds of passengers get on and off every day.

The solution was to build a new, elevated platform on top of the existing one. And to avoid placing unnecessary weight on the structure, the choice fell on fiberglass (GRP)—a lightweight, strong, and slip-resistant material that also performs exceptionally well outdoors.

New—without starting from scratch.

Tearing down an entire platform and rebuilding it from the ground up is no small project. Instead, the decision was made to utilize the existing platform and construct a new walking surface at the correct level.

RK Projektledning was responsible for the design, Infranord ordered the materials, and Byggbröderna built the underlying wooden structure. On top of that, our fine-mesh fiberglass decking was installed, which—together with the structure—forms the new, modern (and damn stylish, if we do say so ourselves) platform surface.

Lightweight, high slip resistance.

When a platform has already subsided, it makes sense not to add more weight than necessary. This is where fiberglass has a major advantage over, say, steel. GRP is significantly lighter, while still being strong and durable. This makes it possible to create a stable walking surface without placing as much strain on the existing structure as a comparable steel solution would.

But low weight is far from the only advantage. On a train platform, people need to be able to move around safely, whether it’s bright sunshine, pouring rain, or a truly slushy November morning. That’s why the fiberglass grating has a slip-resistant surface that provides excellent traction—in both wet and dry conditions.

To make it even better and safer, the grating also has an extra-fine mesh size of just 8×8 mm. This creates an even and stable walking surface where even narrow heels have a better chance of moving around without getting stuck. At the same time, rainwater can drain through the mesh rather than pooling on the surface.

Built to withstand many departures to come.

A train station needs to be up and running, without operational disruptions or unnecessary hassles. The choice of materials and how they hold up over time is extremely important.Fiberglass doesn’t rust, requires minimal maintenance, and withstands weather, moisture, and extreme temperature fluctuations. Its light weight also makes the material easier to handle and install, which is an advantage when work needs to be completed within a limited timeframe.

After installation, the new platform was completed with clear line markings. The result is a raised, slip-resistant, and durable platform with a walking surface that is level with the trains. A smart way to breathe new life into existing infrastructure—without having to start from scratch.

Next departure? Hopefully many, many years from now!