Editing Railway platform

{{Short description|Fixed structure to allow people to board or alight trains}}
{{For|the 1955 Indian film|Railway Platform (film)}}
[[File:Warszawa 1963.jpg|thumb|Platforms at [[Warszawa Śródmieście railway station]] dated 1963, Poland]]
[[File:Bloemperk Rotterdam CS.jpg|thumb|Platform at [[Rotterdam Centraal station]], Netherlands]]
[[File:Paris, Arts et Métiers station, line 11.jpg|thumb|Station platforms at [[Arts et Métiers station]] on [[Paris Métro Line 11|Line 11]] of the [[Paris Métro]]]]
A '''railway platform''' is an area in a [[train station]] alongside a railway [[Track (rail transport)|track]] providing convenient access to trains. Almost all stations have some form of platform, with larger stations having multiple platforms.

[[Grand Central Terminal]] in [[Midtown Manhattan|Midtown]] [[Manhattan]] hosts 44 platforms, more than any other [[rail station]] in the world.<ref name=GrandCentralLargestTrainStationWorld>{{cite web|title=10 things we bet you didn't know about Grand Central|publisher=Signum International AG|url=https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/language/10-things-we-bet-you-didnt-know-about-grand-central/|quote=Grand Central Terminal is spread over 49 acres, has 44 platforms and 67 tracks on two levels. It is the world’s largest train station by number of platforms and area occupied.}}</ref> The world's longest station platform is at [[Hubballi Junction railway station|Hubballi Junction]] in India at {{convert|1507|m}}.<ref name=":0">[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Gorakhpur-gets-worlds-largest-railway-platform/articleshow/23616764.cms Gorakhpur gets world's largest railway platform] ''The Times of India''</ref> The [[Appalachian Trail station]] or [[Benson station]] in the United States, at the other extreme, has a platform which is only long enough for a single bench.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://as0.mta.info/mnr/stations/station_detail.cfm?key=167|title=MNR Stations APPALACHIAN TRAIL|website=as0.mta.info|access-date=2018-10-14}}</ref>

Among some American [[train conductor]]s, the word "platform" has entered [[Conversion (word formation)#Verbification|usage as a verb]] meaning "to berth at a station", as in the announcement: "The last two cars of this train will not platform at East Rockaway".<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/18/nyregion/about-long-island-what-car-of-the-train-is-this.html ''NY Times'' 18 May 1986]</ref>

==Height relative to trains==
{{main|Railway platform height}}
The most basic form of platform consists of an area at the same level as the track, usually resulting in a fairly large height difference between the platform and the [[train]] floor. This would often not be considered a true platform. The more traditional platform is elevated relative to the track but often lower than the train floor, although ideally they  should be at the same level. Occasionally the platform is higher than the train floor, where a train with a low floor serves a station built for trains with a high floor, for example at the [[Nederlandse Spoorwegen|Dutch]] stations of the [[DB Regionalbahn Westfalen]] (see {{stnlnk|Enschede}}). On the [[London Underground]] some stations are served by both [[District line]] and [[Piccadilly line]] trains, and the Piccadilly trains have lower floors.

A [[tram]] stop is often in the middle of the street; usually it has as a platform a refuge area of a similar height to that of the sidewalk, e.g. {{convert|100|mm|0|abbr=on}}, and sometimes has no platform. The latter requires extra care by passengers and other traffic to avoid accidents. Both types of tram stops can be seen in the tram networks of [[Melbourne]] and [[Toronto]]. Sometimes a tram stop is served by ordinary trams with rather low floors and [[rapid transit|metro]]-like [[light rail]] vehicles with higher floors, and the tram stop has a dual-height platform. A railway station may be served by heavy-rail and light-rail vehicles with lower floors and have a dual- height platform, as on the [[RijnGouweLijn]] in the Netherlands.
 
In all cases the platform must accommodate the [[loading gauge]] and conform to the [[structure gauge]] of the system.

==Types of platform==
[[File:Oslo airport train station, Platform 0.jpg|thumb|left|Oslo airport train station, [[Platform 0]]]]
[[File:Platform types en.svg|thumb|right|This diagram illustrates different types of platform. Platform 1 is a "bay" platform, while platforms 2, 3 and 4 are "through" platforms. The platform accommodating 3 and 4 is an "island" platform]]
Platform types include the [[bay platform]], [[side platform]] (also called through platform), [[split platform]] and [[island platform]]. A bay platform is one at which the track terminates, i.e. a dead-end or [[rail siding|siding]]. Trains serving a bay platform must reverse in or out. A side platform is the more usual type, alongside tracks where the train arrives from one end and leaves towards the other. An island platform has through platforms on both sides; it may be indented on one or both ends, with bay platforms. To reach an island platform there may be a bridge, a [[Subway (underpass)|tunnel]], or a [[level crossing]].  A variant on the side platform is the [[spanish solution]] which has platforms on both sides of a single through track.

Modern station platforms can be constructed from a variety of materials such as [[Fiberglass|glass-reinforced polymer]], [[Precast concrete|pre-cast concrete]] or expanded [[Polystyrene|polystrene]], depending on the underlying substructure. 

==Identification==
{{Routemap
| title = Designated platforms or tracks
| legend = track
| collapsible = no
| map =
vCONTgfaq!~MASKa\-STRq!~PLT-\-STRq!~PLT-\-STRq!~PLT-\vCONTgfeq!~MASKa\num1r
vCONTgfaq!~MASKa\-STRq\-STRq\-STRq\vCONTgfeq!~MASKa\num2r
vCONTfgaq!~MASKa\-STRq!~PLT-\-STRq!~PLT-\-STRq!~PLT-\vCONTfgeq!~MASKa\num3r
vCONTfgaq!~MASKa\-STRq\-STRq\-STRq\vCONTfgeq!~MASKa\num4r
PLT-\PLT-\PLT-\
| bottom = <div style="width:18em;text-align:center">In US usage, this station would be described as having three platforms and four tracks (Tracks 1—4). In other English-speaking countries, it would be described as having four platforms (Platforms 1—4).</div>
}}
Most stations have their platforms numbered consecutively from 1; a few stations, including {{stnlnk|Cardiff Central}}, {{stnlnk|Haymarket}}, [[London King's Cross railway station|King's Cross]], {{stnlnk|Stockport}}, and {{stnlnk|Gravesend}} (in the UK); and [[Lidcombe railway station|Lidcombe, Sydney]] (Australia), start from 0, generally because a new platform has been added next to Platform 1. At {{stnlnk|Bristol Temple Meads}} platforms 3 through to 12 are split along their length, with odd numbered platforms facing north and east and even numbers facing south and west, with a small signal halfway along the platform. Some, such as {{stnlnk|London Waterloo East}}, use letters instead of numbers (this is to distinguish the platforms from numbered ones in the adjoining [[London Waterloo station|Waterloo main-line station]]; some, such as [[Paris-Gare de Lyon]], use letters for one group of platforms but numbers for the other.

The actual meaning of the word platform depends on country and language. In some countries such as the United States, the word platform refers to the physical structure, while the place where a train can arrive is referred to as a "track" (e.g. "The train is arriving on Track 5"). In other countries, such as the UK, Ireland and most Commonwealth countries, platform refers specifically to the place where the train stops, which means that in such a case [[island platform]]s are allocated two separate numbers, one for each side. Some countries are in the process of switching from platform to track numbers, i.e. the Czech Republic and Poland. In locations where track numbers are used, an island platform would be described as one platform with two tracks. Many stations also have numbered tracks which are used only for through traffic and do not have physical platform access.

==Facilities==
[[File:Lights of Stasiun Gedebage at Night.jpg|thumb|Station in [[Indonesia]], where the station provides a crossing staircase between platforms for passengers. ]]
Some of the station facilities are often located on the platforms. Where the platforms are not adjacent to a station building, often some form of shelter or [[waiting room]] is provided, and employee cabins may also be present. The weather protection offered varies greatly, from  little more than a roof with open sides, to a closed room with heating or air-conditioning. There may be [[Bench (furniture)|bench]]es, [[lighting]], ticket counters, [[drinking fountain]]s, shops, [[waste|trash]] boxes, and static [[Public transport timetable|timetable]]s or [[platform display|dynamic displays]] with information about the next train.

There are often [[loudspeaker]]s as part of a [[public address]] (PA) system. The PA system is often used where dynamic timetables or electronic displays are not present. A variety of information is presented, including destinations and times (for all trains, or only the more important long-distance trains), delays, cancellations, platform changes, changes in routes and destinations, the number of carriages in the train and the location of first class or luggage compartments, and supplementary fee or reservation requirements.

==Safety==
Some metro stations have [[platform screen doors]] between the platforms and the tracks. They provide more safety, and they allow the heating or air conditioning in the station to be separated from the ventilation in the tunnel, thus being more efficient and effective. They have been installed in most stations of the [[Singapore]] [[Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)|MRT]] and the Hong Kong [[MTR]], and stations on the [[Jubilee Line Extension]] in London.

Platforms should be sloped upwards slightly towards the platform edge to prevent wheeled objects such as trolleys, prams and wheelchairs from rolling away and into the path of the train.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} Many platforms have a cavity underneath an [[cantilever|overhanging edge]] so that people who may fall off the platform can seek shelter from incoming trains. 
[[File:Pasca S.40 PPKA PWT.jpg|thumb|[[Kereta Api Indonesia|Indonesian railway guard]] ( The one who wears a beret) on guard at the station platform ]]
For security against theft or to secure stowaways, some countries have special security officers stationed at stations, just like the police, but specifically for railways, For example, in [[Indonesia]] and [[Poland]], there are special [[Railway Security Guard|railway security]] officers. 

===High-speed rail===
[[File:Acela Kingston Station RI at 150 mph.webm|thumb|A train passing at {{convert|240|kph|mph|abbr=on}} with induced airflow and debris that affect the videographer on the platform]]
In [[high-speed rail]], passing trains are a significant safety problem as the safe distance from the platform edge increases with the speed of the passing train. A study done by the [[United States Department of Transportation]] in 1999 found that trains passing station platforms at speeds of {{convert|240|kph|mph}} can pose safety concerns to passengers on the platforms who are {{convert|2|m|ft}} away from the edge due to the aerodynamic effects created by pressure and induced airflow with speeds of {{convert|64|kph|mph}} to {{convert|95|kph|mph}} depending on the train body aerodynamic designs. Additionally, the airflow can cause debris to be blown out to the waiting passengers. If the passengers stand closer at {{convert|1|m|ft}}, the risk increases with airflow that can reach speeds of {{convert|79|kph|mph}} to {{convert|116|kph|mph}}.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lee|first1=Harvey Shui-Hong|title=Assessment of Potential Aerodynamic Effects on Personnel and Equipment in Proximity to High-Speed Train Operations|date=December 1999|publisher=United States Department of Transportation|url=https://ntl.bts.gov/lib/13000/13000/13047/ord9911.pdf|access-date=25 April 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Hamburg berlin track platform barriers.jpg|thumb|Platform barriers on the [[Berlin–Hamburg Railway|Berlin-Hamburg high speed line]]]]
In United Kingdom, a guideline for platform safety specifies that for the platforms with train passing speeds between {{convert|160|kph|mph}} and {{convert|200|kph|mph}}, there should be a yellow-line buffer zone of {{convert|1.5|m|ft}} and other warning signs. If trains can pass at speeds higher than {{convert|200|kph|mph}}, the platforms should be inaccessible to passengers unless there are waiting rooms or screened areas to provide protection.<ref>{{cite book|title=Guidance on Interface between Station Platforms, Track and Trains|date=March 2014|publisher=Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited|edition=2|url=https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/GIGN7616%20Iss%202.pdf|access-date=25 April 2017}}</ref> The [[European Union]] has a regulation for platforms that are close to tracks with train passing speeds of {{convert|250|kph|mph}} or more should not be accessible to passengers unless there is a lower speed limit for trains that intend to stop at the station or there are barriers to limit access.<ref>{{cite book|title=2002/732/EC: Commission Decision of 30 May 2002 concerning the technical specification for interoperability relating to the infrastructure subsystem of the trans-European high-speed rail system referred to in Article 6(1) of Council Directive 96/48/EC|date=9 December 2002|publisher=The European Union|pages=143–279|edition=Official Journal L 245|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32002D0732|access-date=26 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theindiantrain.blogspot.com/2021/11/platform-locator.html|title=Train Platform Locator|publisher=Indian Train|access-date=26 April 2021}}</ref>

===Markings===
[[File:Mind the gap.jpg|thumb|right|A common marking at curved platforms on the [[London Underground]].]]
Platforms usually have some form of warnings or measures to keep passengers away from the tracks. The simplest measure is markings near the edge of the platform to demarcate the distance back that passengers should remain. Often a special tiled surface is used as well as a painted line, to help blind people using a walking aid, and help in preventing wheelchairs from rolling too near the platform edge.

In the US, [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990]] regulations require a detectable warning strip {{convert|24|in|cm}} wide, consisting of truncated dome bumps in a visually-contrasting color, for the full length of the platform.<ref>[http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAStandards.pdf 2010 ADA Standards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118030224/https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAStandards.pdf |date=2016-11-18 }}, US Department of Justice, Sections 710.5, 810</ref>

=== Curvature ===
{{See also|Platform gap|Platform gap filler}}
Ideally platforms should be straight or slightly [[convex curve|convex]], so that the guard (if any) can see the whole train when preparing to close the doors. Platforms that have great curvature have blind spots that create a safety hazard. Mirrors or [[Closed-circuit television|closed-circuit camera]]s may be used in these cases to view the whole platform. Also passenger carriages are straight, so doors will not always open directly onto a curved platform &ndash; often a [[platform gap]] is present. Usually such platforms will have warning signs, possibly auditory, such as [[London Underground]]'s famous phrase "[[Mind the gap]]".

There may be moveable [[Platform gap filler|gap filler]] sections within the platform, extending once the train has stopped and retracting after the doors have closed. The [[New York City Subway]] employs these at [[14th Street–Union Square (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)|14th Street–Union Square]] on the [[IRT Lexington Avenue Line]] and at [[Times Square (IRT 42nd Street Shuttle)|Times Square]] on the [[42nd Street Shuttle]], and formerly at the [[South Ferry loops (New York City Subway)|South Ferry]] outer loop station on the [[IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line]].

==Notable examples==

===Longest railway platforms===
[[File:Kollam Platform's eastern end.jpg|right|thumb|Eastern end of longest platform in {{stnlnk|Kollam Junction}} in India. It is the world's third longest railway platform.]]
# [[Hubballi Junction railway station|Hubballi Junction]], [[Karnataka]], India: {{convert|1505|m}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=World's longest railway platform in Hubballi in its final stage of construction |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2021/mar/21/worlds-longest-railway-platform-in-hubballiin-its-final-stage-of-construction-2279648.html |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
# {{stnlnk|Gorakhpur Junction}}, [[Uttar Pradesh]], India: {{convert|1,366.33|m|0|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Dinda|first=Archisman|title=Uttar Pradesh gets world's longest railway platform|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/world/india/uttar-pradesh-gets-world-s-longest-railway-platform-1.1241468|access-date=9 October 2013|newspaper=GulfNews.com|date=<!-- 18:53  --> October 9, 2013}}</ref>
# {{stnlnk|Kollam Junction}}, [[Kerala]], India: {{convert|1,180.5|m|0|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.railnewscenter.com/2015/01/at-glance-longest-railway-platforms-in.html |title=At a glance: Longest railway platforms in India |publisher=Railnewscenter |access-date=25 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225073235/http://www.railnewscenter.com/2015/01/at-glance-longest-railway-platforms-in.html |archive-date=25 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walkthroughindia.com/walkthroughs/trains/top-6-longest-railway-platforms-india/ |title=The Top 6 Longest Railway Platforms of India |publisher=Walk through India |access-date=25 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/asia/west-bengal-tea-plantations-and-other-rajera-relics-9835426.html |title=West Bengal: tea plantations and other Raj-era relics |work = The Independent|first = Ben|last = Walsh|date = 2 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://i.imgur.com/v1AEV5k.jpg |title=Malayala Manorama Daily(Kollam Edition 22/02/2015) |access-date= 2015-02-22}}</ref>
# {{rws|Kharagpur Junction}}, [[West Bengal]], India: {{convert|1072.5|m|0|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-trivia.html |title = Trivia|publisher=IRFCA| access-date = 2012-01-21 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-railways/facts.html |title = Indian Railway Facts|publisher=iloveindia| access-date = 2012-01-21 }}</ref>
# [[State Street subway|State Street Subway]], [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], US, {{convert|1067.1|m|0|abbr=on}}
# {{rws|Pilibhit Junction}}, [[Uttar Pradesh]] [[India]] {{convert|855|m|0|abbr=on}}
# [[Auto Club Speedway]] station, [[Fontana, California]], US: {{convert|2675|ft|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="schematics">{{CA rail schematics}}</ref>
# {{stnlnk|Bilaspur}}, [[Chhattisgarh]], India: {{convert|802|m|0|abbr=on}}
# [[Eurotunnel Folkestone Terminal|Cheriton Shuttle Terminal]], [[Kent]], United Kingdom: {{convert|791|m|0|abbr=on}} (longest in Europe)
# {{stnlnk|Bern}}, [[Bern]], Switzerland: {{convert|785|m|0|abbr=on}}
# [[Jhansi Junction|Jhansi]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India: {{convert|770|m|0|abbr=on}}
# [[Milwaukee-Dearborn subway|Dearborn Street subway]], [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], US {{convert|762|m|0|abbr=on}}
# {{stnlnk|Sonpur Junction}}, [[Sonepur, Bihar]], India: {{convert|738|m|0|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/lucknow-city-all-trains-from-gorakhpur-will-be-on-track-from-tomorrow-10779991.html |title=गोरखपुर से ट्रेन का सुचारू संचालन कल से |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322230152/http://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/lucknow-city-all-trains-from-gorakhpur-will-be-on-track-from-tomorrow-10779991.html |archive-date=2016-03-22 |language =hi |trans-title=All Trains from Gorakhpur Will Be On Track From Tomorrow|date = 7 October 2013 }}</ref>
# {{stnlnk|Nabadwip Dham}}, [[Nadia district]], West Bengal, India {{convert|720|m|0|abbr=on}}
# [[Flinders Street railway station]], [[Melbourne]], Victoria, Australia: {{convert|708|m|0|abbr=on}}<ref>[http://www.gowest.com.au/melbourne-attractions.html Melbourne Crime Tours – Go West Tours Melbourne<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403150453/http://www.gowest.com.au/melbourne-attractions.html |date=April 3, 2012 }}</ref>
# [[Port Pirie (Mary Elie Street) railway station]], [[South Australia]]: {{convert|701|m|0|abbr=on}}<ref>"News" ''[[Railway Gazette International|Railway Gazette]]'' 18 August 1967 page 603</ref>
# [[Sittard railway station]], Netherlands: {{convert|700|m|0|abbr=on}}
# [['s-Hertogenbosch railway station]], Netherlands: {{convert|699|m|0|abbr=on}}
# {{stnlnk|Nijmegen}}, Netherlands: {{convert|699|m|0|abbr=on}}

===Greatest number of platforms===

#[[Grand Central Terminal]] New York City, US: 44
#[[Gare du Nord]], France: 35 (31 above ground level + 4 underground)
#[[Munich Central Station]], Germany: 34 (32 above ground level + 2 underground)
#[[Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof]], Germany: 31 (24 above ground level + 7 underground)
#[[Chicago Union Station]], US: 30
#{{stnlnk|Zhengzhou East}}, China: 30
#[[Central railway station, Sydney|Central railway station]], Sydney, Australia: 26 (22 above ground level + 4 underground)
#[[Zürich Hauptbahnhof]], Switzerland: 26 (16 above ground level + 10 underground)
#[[London Waterloo station]], United Kingdom: 24 [[National Rail|mainline]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=London Waterloo - Facilities, Shops and Parking Information |url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/london-waterloo/ |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=www.networkrail.co.uk}}</ref> (plus 8 at [[Waterloo tube station]])<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Waterloo Underground Station |url=https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUWLO/waterloo-underground-station |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=Transport for London |language=en-GB}}</ref>
#[[Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal]] (Bang Sue Grand Central), Bangkok, Thailand: 24 (+2 [[Blue Line (Bangkok)|MRT Blue Line]], 12 platforms are currently out of use)
#{{stnlnk|Howrah}}, India : 23  (+4 for [[Howrah metro station]])
#{{stnlnk|Sealdah}},India: 21 (+4 for [[Sealdah metro station]])
#[[Leipzig Hauptbahnhof]], Germany: 24

== See also ==
{{div col}}
* {{annotated link|Berne gauge}}
* [[Gauntlet track]]
* {{annotated link|Glossary of rail transport terms}}
* {{annotated link|Harrington Hump}}
* {{annotated link|Island platform}}
* [[Loading dock]]
* {{annotated link|Loading gauge}}
* {{annotated link|Mind the gap}}
* {{annotated link|Platform gap}}
* {{annotated link|Platform gap filler}}
* {{annotated link|Railway platform height}}
* {{annotated link|Rail transport}}
* {{annotated link|Side platform}}
* {{annotated link|Spanish solution}}
* {{annotated link|Split platform}}
* {{annotated link|Structure gauge}}
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Train station platforms}}
{{Wikidata property|P1103}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.sporenplan.nl/html_nl/sporenplan/ns/ns_normaal/start.html|title=Emplacementstekeningen NS|language=nl|work=www.sporenplan.nl}} Schematic maps of all tracks, junctionsswitches and platforms in the Netherlands (point at an area and open detail map in a new window)
* {{cite web|url=http://www.railway-technical.com/stations.shtml#Platforms|title=Train Station Page|at=Platforms|work=www.railway-technical.com|publisher=Railway Technical Web Pages|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609114225/http://www.railway-technical.com/stations.shtml#Platforms|archive-date=2007-06-09}} (UK-centric information)

{{Rail tracks}}
{{Railway_track_layouts}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Railway platforms| ]]
[[Category:Railway stations| Platform]]