A side platform (also known as a marginal platform or a single-face platform) is a platform positioned to the side of one or more railway tracks or guideways at a railway station, tram stop, 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 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 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, 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 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 (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, 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 on the Taoyuan Airport MRT (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