railway platform height
The platform height ( Switzerland: platform height ) is the height of the platform ( access platform parallel to the track ), which is measured as the vehicle floor height from top of rail (SO). To allow comfortable and safe boarding passengers, the platforms are up to about increases depending on the route one meter. The exact platform heights depend on the vehicles as well as the applicable legal regulations predominantly used. According to the general regulation, the height of the first step tread or the vehicle floor shall be equal to or higher than the platform level of the breakpoint.
The world used and even standardized platform heights are more numerous than the unused railway gauges. In the development of rail transport vehicles were designed for rural traffic ( mainline, regional train ) for keeping on the open road, so that the standardized platform heights remained low and usually several treads in the vehicle allowed to get to the vehicle floor heights. In the mass transport in particular the light rail, however, platforms and vehicles were developed with the same level to allow easy and quick access for travelers with luggage, pushchairs or wheelchairs - are partly here high-level platforms with more than one meter in front. Exceptions exist in newer low-floor vehicles.
They share platforms corresponding to their platform height in different platform classes, but most different classification standards have emerged in the countries. The class designations depend in general on the particular terms of the typical floor heights of the vehicles ( high-floor platform, etc. ), where trams are considered hochflurig from 600 mm floor height, railways, however, with 550 mm floor height as low floor. A platform that is higher than about 550 mm above rail level is generally referred to as a high platform.
Standardization
In Germany, the Railway Construction and Operation (EBO ) creates a platform height of at least 380 mm fixed to a maximum of 960 mm. In new buildings or extensive modifications of persons platforms are therefore usually the platform edge to a height of 760 mm above rail level (both from S-Bahn and regional traffic) are placed; Heights of less than 380 mm and 960 mm are not permitted. Platforms on which solely commuter trains, are to be placed to a height of 960 mm above rail level.
In the first version of EBO from 38 May 1967 and 76 cm were provided above the running surface than a standard height for platforms. Has now been introduced the ability to create, with special authorization, higher platforms. The third ordinance amending the Railway Construction and Operating Rules, the provisions were more restrictive on station platforms to promote a long-term standardization and reduce difficulties of people with difficulties use in May 1991. As a standard height for new buildings or extensive renovations only 76 cm are provided since then; 96 cm are allowed with exclusive maintenance of urban railways. Heights of less than 38 cm and more than 96 cm have since no longer allowed. The railway infrastructure companies were allowed to define additional standard heights for certain applications in its own regulations. For paths that are operated as trams to BOStrab, should not be higher than the vehicle floor of the platform, when using modern low-floor vehicles, the platform height is thus usually about 300 mm, but a number of rail systems also use high-level platforms.
In Switzerland, a uniform platform height of 550 mm for standard gauge and 350 mm is intended for narrow-gauge lines, while trams the platform height should be adjusted to the vehicles in order to provide a level equal access.
In France, the platforms for the TGV long-distance transport and TER regional trains are uniformly converted to 550 mm; all newer vehicle models are adapted to this platform height. In Belgium, the platform height of the main-line railways is 760 mm, so that has been developed for the Euro Star to London a TGV model with multiple supported entrance heights.
The TSI " infrastructure ", valid in the trans-European rail network for the high-speed transport (TEN- HGV), allows for new or re -build platform edges that are regularly hit by high-speed trains, either 550 mm or 760 mm above the running surface with a height tolerance of -30 mm / 0 mm to. The usable length of the platform of this high-speed holding platforms expected to amount to at least 400 m. The implementation of the TSI INS should be completed by 2020. Ibid -called permanent exceptions to this rule are: platform length of 320 m and a platform height of 550 mm in Austria and Denmark; Platform heights of 380 mm to 580 mm in Sweden; Platform height of 760 mm in the UK (only high-speed network ); Platform length of 300 m and height of the platform 915 ( 0 / -50 ) mm in the UK (except for high-speed network ) and Ireland; for new buildings or conversions at the minimum platform length of 600 m and platform heights of 200 mm or 550 mm in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland; Platform height of 840 mm in regional traffic as well as for new buildings or conversions platform height of 760 mm in the Netherlands. Added to permanent differences on individual lines including transitional arrangements until 2020.
In the Annex to the 2008/164/EC permanent exemptions from the EC-wide platform heights are: Denmark (S -Bahn ) and France (Regional traffic Ile de France) with 920 mm; Germany in the S -Bahn service with 960 mm; Poland in transport with 760 mm or 1060 mm; United Kingdom ( with track) with 1100 mm; Great Britain (except high speed network ), Northern Ireland and Ireland with 915 mm; Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland ( provided platforms with 1100 mm for conversion to 550 mm) with 200 mm or 1100 mm ( 20 / -50 ); Portugal in the transport of 900 mm or 1100 mm; Portugal and Spain in regional traffic with 680 mm; Sweden in transport with 730 mm or 1150 mm, in regional traffic with 380 mm or 580 mm; Netherlands ( provided for conversion to 760 mm) in regional traffic with 840 mm.
In the U.S., a unified platform height of 48 inches is ( 1220 mm ) used in the Northeast Corridor from New York to Washington DC. In the southern and western states regional trains on platform heights of 25 inches ( 635 mm) and long-distance trains to 8 inches (200 mm ) are aligned; after a decision by the competent authority from the ADA - 2006 is to be applied for this track region in the future a unified platform height of 15 inches (380 mm). Overall, the route network is, however, characterized by numerous differences.