A new FIDA installation takes shape at Modena Policlinico railway station, where a prefabricated raised flooring system developed for the railway sector has been used to raise the existing platform.
Delivered for Ferrovie Emilia Romagna (FER), the project covered 100 linear metres, equivalent to 235 m² of flooring, installed over four nights while keeping the platform accessible during passenger service hours.
The project expands FIDA’s Transportation solutions, complementing its passenger-focused technologies with new capabilities in station infrastructure, including structures and cladding designed to meet the specific requirements of railway environments.
A new FIDA project for Modena Policlinico railway station
Modena Policlinico railway station marks the first installation in Italy of FIDA’s raised flooring system: a solution developed to upgrade railway platforms using a prefabricated, modular system.
The station presents a distinctive logistical and operational setting, as it is located inside a tunnel. This makes careful planning of installation schedules, methods and workspace management even more important.
The project was driven by the need to raise the platform level, improving key aspects of railway infrastructure use: access to trains, accessibility for people with reduced mobility, passenger safety, and the management of boarding and alighting flows.
In this context, the H55 standard is particularly relevant. This reference platform height helps reduce the vertical gap between the train and the platform, making boarding and alighting easier for passengers.
FIDA RAISED FLOORING: a solution for platform upgrades
FIDA RAISED FLOORING is a prefabricated raised flooring system that enables railway platforms to be upgraded using modular components assembled directly on site.
A railway station is an operational facility, where service continuity is one of the main factors to consider from the design stage.
This is where a prefabricated system brings particular value.
Compared with conventional construction, which involves multiple on-site operations, it enables a process based on prefabricated components and predominantly dry installation methods.
The solution offers:
- Fast installation;
- Predominantly dry installation methods;
- Reduced waiting times for materials to cure;
- The ability to schedule work during overnight windows or service shutdowns;
- Fewer invasive construction activities within the station.
The system also helps limit demolition, dust, noise and vibration, while reducing the need for heavy machinery inside the station.
FIDA’s solution was also featured in La Tecnica Professionale, published by CIFI, in an article on raising existing railway platforms to the H55 standard, authored by Zaira Mercurio (FIDA) and Angelo Rufino (FER). Read the article here.
235 m² of flooring installed over four nights
At Modena Policlinico, 100 linear metres, equivalent to 235 m² of FIDA RAISED FLOORING, were installed over four nights.
This figure clearly illustrates both the project and the potential of a prefabricated solution in a railway environment.
Installation was scheduled outside passenger service hours. This allowed work to take place on the platform overnight, with areas progressively returned to passenger use during the day.
100 linear metres · 235 m² · 4 nights
As installation progressed, temporary ramps kept the raised sections of the platform accessible, including for people with reduced mobility.
The work was therefore completed without disruption to passengers—a particularly significant achievement in a railway setting, where minimising interference between construction work and normal infrastructure use is a major operational challenge.
Why use raised flooring in a railway station?
Fast installation and modularity are only part of the benefits: a raised flooring system also simplifies the management of technical services and subsequent maintenance.
Modern stations accommodate an increasing number of technological systems: data networks, CCTV, digital signage, public address systems, ticketing, access control and other technical equipment.
The space beneath the raised floor allows cables and cable ducts to be arranged neatly and kept accessible for inspection, reducing the need for building work and simplifying future modifications or extensions.
The same principle applies to maintenance. Individual panels can be lifted to access specific areas, including existing inspection chambers, without disturbing large sections of flooring.
The ability to replace individual modules also helps limit the impact of major maintenance work.
The system can also accommodate variations in level and uneven substrates while maintaining electrical insulation, a particularly useful feature when upgrading existing infrastructure.
These characteristics reflect FIDA’s approach to structures and cladding for the Transportation sector, where modularity, access for inspection, integration of technical services and simplified maintenance are central design considerations.
A system designed for railway environments
FIDA RAISED FLOORING uses glass-fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) panels, designed to meet the typical operating conditions of railway infrastructure.
The panels consist of a polymer resin matrix reinforced with oriented glass fibres. According to FIDA’s technical documentation, this composition provides:
- A high strength-to-weight ratio;
- Resistance to corrosion, moisture and chemicals;
- Mechanical strength, including under distributed loads;
- Options for customisation and surface finishes;
- Fire resistance and slip-resistant properties.
Appearance is also part of the design process. The system can be integrated into the station’s visual identity while providing resistance to wear, heavy foot traffic and weather exposure in partially sheltered outdoor areas.
FIDA RAISED FLOORING has also undergone laboratory testing to assess the retention of its mechanical and surface properties following accelerated ageing cycles.
The reported results include retained flexural strength after thermal shock and freeze–thaw cycles, no cracking, flaking or surface deterioration, and high colour stability after 600 hours of xenon-lamp exposure in accordance with UNI EN ISO 16474-2.
Raised flooring versus conventional construction: comparing installation times
Prefabrication also changes how construction work is organised. A technical comparison based on a 600 m² platform shows that FIDA RAISED FLOORING can significantly reduce the work requiring the area to be taken out of use.
Conventional flooring construction involves several successive stages: installing the platform edge units, adding fill, laying and curing the screed, forming joints, and laying the final floor finish.
In the case analysed in the technical documentation, covering an area of 600 m², the conventional process requires a total of 30 days of line closure.
For raised flooring, the same documentation indicates 8 nights of work without line closure, with the platform area remaining accessible during the day via suitable temporary ramps.
| Scenario analysed | Conventional flooring | FIDA RAISED FLOORING |
| Surface area | 600 m² | 600 m² |
| Construction method | Multiple successive on-site operations | Prefabricated, modular system |
| Indicative timescale | 30 days of line closure | 8 nights of work |
| Accessibility | Area inaccessible during the construction phases considered | Area accessible during the day via temporary ramps |
These figures relate to the specific technical scenario analysed and should not be taken as installation times applicable to every project. Platform dimensions, characteristics and operating conditions can all affect installation schedules and methods.
However, the comparison highlights one of the solution’s core principles: shifting as much work as possible towards a prefabricated, modular process, limiting invasive construction activities within the station.
RAISED FLOORING expands FIDA’s Transportation solutions
The Modena Policlinico project introduces a new application of FIDA’s expertise in railway infrastructure, combining design, customised manufacturing and attention to the station’s operational requirements.
RAISED FLOORING forms part of a broader range of transportation solutions, including passenger information systems, lighting, signage, solutions for people with reduced mobility (PRM), and structures and cladding developed for railway environments.
At Modena Policlinico, the raised flooring system enabled the platform to be upgraded using a modular solution designed to minimise operational impact, bringing the platform surface level with the train floor.
A practical project that expands FIDA’s capabilities in railway station refurbishment and upgrades, where infrastructure, accessibility and service continuity must be considered as parts of the same project.
FAQ about FIDA’s Modena Policlinico project
How much raised flooring was installed at Modena Policlinico?
A total of 100 linear metres of flooring, equivalent to 235 m², was installed over four nights.
Did the platform remain accessible during the work?
Yes. Work was scheduled outside passenger service hours. During the day, temporary ramps kept the affected areas accessible, including for people with reduced mobility.
What is FIDA RAISED FLOORING?
FIDA RAISED FLOORING is a prefabricated glass-fibre-reinforced raised flooring system developed by FIDA for railway applications. Modularity, fast installation and reduced operational impact are among its defining features.
What maintenance benefits does raised flooring offer?
The modular structure allows targeted access to the spaces and inspection chambers beneath the floor by lifting individual panels, reducing the need to disturb large sections of flooring.
Why is the H55 standard important in railway stations?
The H55 standard is used when upgrading platforms to reduce the vertical gap between the train and the platform, improving accessibility and making boarding and alighting easier for passengers.
