City Center Track Crossing

The “city center track crossing” project is at the heart of the urban restructuring around the train station in Winterthur. Contracted by the City of Winterthur, a consortium of renowned engineers, architects, landscape architects and lighting designers (Müller & Truniger, Zurich; Dr. Lüchinger + Meyer, Zurich; Krebs und Herde, Winterthur; Amstein + Walthert, Zurich; Reflexion AG, Zurich; Stadt Raum Verkehr, Zurich) were in charge of the planning and implementation of the flagship project. A new pedestrian and cycle underpass connects the areas on both sides of the tracks. 200 colored and white LED luminaires from the Traxon brand lead the way, ensuring both attractive and safe lighting. The specialist brand from OSRAM Traxon e:cue is known across the world for its innovative dynamic LED lighting solutions. 

At the point where the four adjacent districts intersect, a large open space was created which forms a visual link between the districts and promotes the development of a vibrant city center. The pivotal idea of the concept was to establish spaces instead of footbridges. On both sides of the tracks, areas were created which provide attractive access points to the districts. They form a visual link between each other across the tracks, and are connected via a generous pedestrian underpass. 

The pedestrian and cycling underpass located on the active side of Zürcherstrasse is easily accessible from all sides. As a visible sign of the new link, two impressive roofs mark the descents, creating a visual bridge across the tracks. People descending into the underground at Winterthur train station can see where they will emerge on the other side. Both overground and underground, light is an important design element. Pedestrians and cyclists share the wide underpass but each have their own lane. The load-bearing wall of the rail bridge has been turned into a light object, guiding pedestrians from the illuminated roof of the entrance to the illuminated roof of the exit. 

Dynamic colored and white LED lighting with Nano Liner Allegro AC XB 

The lighting system was planned by Reflexion AG, while se Lightmanagement AG, a certified partner of OSRAM, was responsible for technical implementation and commissioning. 

Matching this groundbreaking urban development project, two 45-meter LED panels of light were produced. This turns the pedestrian and cycling underpass into a versatile medium, making it safer for passers-by at the same time. The LED panels are made up of individually controllable 300-millimeter louvers. The special diffused safety glass creates lighting effects in a variety of shapes, colors and sequences. se Lightmanagement AG implemented this media projection using 152 Traxon Nano Liner Allegro AC XB RGB LED luminaires and an e:cue lighting control engine. The highlight here is new software from se Lightmanagement which will constantly change the color pattern automatically over the next 15 years, much to the delight of passers-by who will be treated to a lively and ever-changing lighting installation. 

The object was rounded off with 62 white LED luminaires in the access areas of the underpass, for which se Lightmanagement AG used the Traxon Nano Liner Allegro AC XB with 4,000 kelvin. 

The Nano Liner Allegro AC XB is an extremely narrow, linear lighting system, offering high performance and great energy efficiency for outdoor applications. It is operated on line voltage, and thanks to its slim design is recommended for many applications in outdoor architecture, retail and hospitality. Offering flickerfree dimming thanks to leading-edge phase dimmers, it covers a wide range of colors including RGB and three white options. The Nano Liner Allegro AC XB is available in four lengths as well as two beam angles and is ideal for area, linear and indirect lighting, especially where a cost-effective solution with a low profile is required. The Nano Liner Allegro AC XB’s simple plug & play design makes for quick and easy installation, even when space is at a premium.