A side platform (also known as a marginal platform or a single-face platform) is a

platform Platform may refer to: Arts * Platform, an arts centre at The Bridge, Easterhouse, Glasgow * ''Platform'' (1993 film), a 1993 Bollywood action film * ''Platform'' (2000 film), a 2000 film by Jia Zhangke * '' The Platform'' (2019 film) * Pla ...

positioned to the side of one or more railway tracks or guideways at a railway station,

tram stop A tram stop, tram station, streetcar stop, or light rail station is a place designated for a tram, streetcar, or light rail vehicle to stop so passengers can board or alight it. Generally, tram stops share most characteristics of bus stops, bu ...

, or transitway. A station having dual side platforms, one for each direction of travel, is the basic design used for double-track railway lines (as opposed to, for instance, the

island platform An island platform (also center platform (American English) or centre platform (British English)) is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway inte ...

where a single platform lies between the tracks). Side platforms may result in a wider overall footprint for the station compared with an island platform, where a single width of platform can be shared by riders using either track. In some stations, the two side platforms are connected by a footbridge or

tunnel A tunnel is an underground or undersea passageway. It is dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, or laid under water, and is usually completely enclosed except for the two portals common at each end, though there may be access and ve ...

to allow safe access to the alternate platform. While a pair of side platforms is often provided on a dual-track line, a single side platform is usually sufficient (trains are usually only boarded from one side) for a single-track line.

Layout

Where the station is close to a

level crossing A level crossing is an intersection where a railway line crosses a road, Trail, path, or (in rare situations) airport runway, at the same level, as opposed to the railway line or the road etc. crossing over or under using an Overpass#Railway, o ...

(grade crossing) the platforms may either be on the same side of the crossing road or alternatively may be staggered in one of two ways. With the 'near-side platforms' configuration, each platform appears before the intersection and with 'far-side platforms' they are positioned after the intersection. In some situations, a single side platform can be served by multiple vehicles simultaneously with a

scissors crossing A railroad switch ( AE), turnout, or (set of) points ( CE) is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another, such as at a railway junction or where a spur or siding branches off. Design T ...

provided to allow access mid-way along its length. Larger stations may have two side platforms with several island platforms in between. Some are in a

Spanish solution In railway and rapid transit parlance, the Spanish solution is a station layout with two railway platforms, one on each side of the track, which allows for separate platforms for boarding and alighting. The "Spanish solution" is used in several ...

format, with two side platforms and an island platform in between, serving two tracks. In some situations, a single side platform may be in use with the other one (side platform) disused like with Ryde Esplanade. File:Lysaghts railway station.JPG,

Lysaghts railway station Lysaghts railway station is an intercity train station located in Spring Hill, New South Wales, Australia, on the South Coast railway line's Port Kembla branch. The station serves NSW TrainLink trains travelling south to Port Kembla and nor ...

, in Australia, with two side platforms and a

footbridge A footbridge (also a pedestrian bridge, pedestrian overpass, or pedestrian overcrossing) is a bridge designed solely for pedestrians.''Oxford English Dictionary'' While the primary meaning for a bridge is a structure which links "two points at a ...

connecting them File:Cambronne Metro station, Paris September 2013 003.jpg,

Cambronne station Cambronne () is an elevated station on Line 6 of the Paris Métro. Located in the 15th arrondissement, it is named after the nearby Place Cambronne and Rue Cambronne, which were in turn named after Viscount Pierre Cambronne (1770–1842), a gene ...

on Line 6 of the

Paris Métro The Paris Métro (, , or , ), short for Métropolitain (), is a rapid transit system serving the Paris metropolitan area in France. A symbol of the city, it is known for its density within the capital's territorial limits, uniform architectur ...

. An example of an elevated station with side platforms. File:Katase-Shirata-STA Home.jpg, View of

Katase-Shirata Station is a railway station in the town of Higashiizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, operated by the privately owned Izu Kyūkō Line . Lines Katase-Shirata Station is served by the Izu Kyūkō Line, and is located 26.1 kilometers from the official ...

(Japan), an example where the line is mainly a single track, but it is possible for trains to cross each other at the station File:Ryde interchange.JPG,

Ryde Esplanade railway station Ryde Esplanade railway station serves the town of Ryde on the Isle of Wight, and forms part of the Ryde Transport Interchange. Located on the sea front, it is the most convenient station for the majority of the town. Ryde Esplanade is also the ...

, with one platform in use and another out of use. Ryde, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England. File:Platform 2, Xinzhuang Fuduxin Station 20170318.jpg,

Xinzhuang Fuduxin metro station Xinzhuang Fuduxin () is a station on the Taoyuan Airport MRT located on the border of Xinzhuang and Taishan, New Taipei, Taiwan. Station overview This elevated station has two side platforms, and is long and wide. It is only served by commute ...

on the

Taoyuan Airport MRT Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), commonly known as the Airport MRT, is a rapid transit line of the Taoyuan Metro that connects Taipei, Taoyuan and New Taipei with Taoyuan International Airport in northern Taiwan. ...

(Taiwan). Many stations on the Taoyuan Airport MRT use side platforms rather than an

to better accommodate large numbers of passengers. File:EW22 Dover MRT Platform A 20200918 143957.jpg,

Dover MRT station Dover MRT station is an elevated Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East West line (EWL) in Singapore. Located along Commonwealth Avenue West, the station is directly linked to Singapore Polytechnic and serves various residential develop ...

(Singapore) with two platforms in use. The station is an infill station built along an existing line; thus, it takes a side platform structure.

References

{{Railway track layouts Railway platforms ja:プラットホーム#相対式ホーム

Layout

See also

References