Railway platform

A platform ( common in Switzerland, formerly in Austria and Germany: the / the Perron ) is a fortified platform, which is applied in parallel and at a short distance to a railway track to facilitate the entry and exit for trains. One finds, therefore, in stations or on breakpoints ( stops). Similar constructions are available as working platforms next deployment tracks.

The German railway operates in Germany platforms with a total length of 2300 kilometers.

Platforms are in addition to the stops of trams, underground trains and cable cars.

• 3.1 main platform
• 3.2 Interim platform
• 3.3 Side and center platforms 3.3.1 Seitenbahnsteig
• 3.3.2 middle platform
• 3.3.3 Twin Platform

• 4.1 design
• 4.2 Security

Method of construction

While in the past simple, possibly paved beds of gravel were regarded with more or less fixed leading edge than enough, today's high-level platforms are much more massive structures. The edges usually consist of cantilever walls (L- stones) of concrete, whose vertical part is profiled top, forming a tactile curb. The body of the platform is banked and / or concrete and usually takes rainwater drains and pipes for the platform lighting and evtuell the guidance, security and telecommunications of the operating point on. The surface is mostly covered with concrete interlocking paving stones and, if not covered, provided with means drainages. Inside also natural stone can be used.

At the ends and, unless it is a central platform, toward the rear of the platform is either fluent in a traffic area above or bounded by balustrade. From railway Rising, the free open field on the track, mostly closed to the public staircase leads down to the track level.

Increasingly platforms no longer curb stones, earth or concrete body and patches are built, but prefabricated in bricks. Paving, the visually impaired, safety marking, etc. are already incorporated. These plates may be issued within a few hours with cranes on pile foundations, mainly under the rolling wheel reduces the necessary closure periods during construction and thus significantly reduces the cost of warning devices and flagmen.

Vehicular Facilities

Platforms will be furnished depending on their size and traffic levels with different elements.

Outside platform canopies are provided at heavily used platforms, today mostly realized as a row of columns ago, after one or both sides cantilevered element. Speaker and lighting are either integrated into the roofing or prepared at regular intervals masts mounted.

Virtually always, seating and weather protection "reverberate " provided - if no platform roof exists, the latter open at the top as a mere shelter. Weatherproof halls are sometimes implemented as identity element, such as the " pluses " of the Deutsche Bahn.

Per edge of the platform, at least one destination displays is usually placed; at access points without any operational variation range fixed signs " direction XY". Each platform will also receive at least one station clock as well as a sufficient number of station name signs.

Next there may be: waste containers, ashtrays, light boxes for schedules, maps, car level indicators and other information, ticket vending machines, screens for advertising and information, section marks, spaces for vans and mobile lifting towers, public telephones, marketing surfaces ( billboards ), surveillance cameras, emergency and information intercom systems, beverage and candy machines, lockers. On broad pavilions platforms can be set up to accommodate kiosks and other commercial or service spaces.

Operating facilities

For rail operations can be found at a platform almost always one or more support plates, often distant signal, intercom systems and route telephone handling facilities with control panel and departure signal, sometimes brake testing equipment. Need to secure high-speed pass-by will be installed, if necessary, a passenger protection system. In the pavilions above one finds sometimes even local platform with operational oversight function.

Access

The platform is available as part of the station area private property of the Station Manager, i.e., the DB AG, this is the DB Station & Service AG. The entrance was formerly regulated by the railway companies through so-called " wickets ". Today it is possible in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to reside on the freely accessible platforms of branch lines, they are considered under common law as a public traffic area, although they are by no means. Basically, they are only the concern of the collection and delivery traffic reserved, unless pending a use of a means of transport.

For the use of the platforms within several transport associations a ticket or a platform ticket is necessary. For ticket controls, it is thus possible to perform this outside of the platforms at the point marked " lock system " at the entrance building. This is often exercised in Hamburg, for example.

In many cities, access to the metro stations (at least in the city center ) with automatic lock systems ( turnstiles with automatic ticket checking) is common.

Platform types

Platforms are divided into different types according to their location and design.

House platform

A house platform denotes an outer platform, which is located directly in front of the reception building of a railway station and can be reached without crossing of tracks by the audience. If a main platform is present, this almost always referred to as track 1 and Platform 1 and is the starting point for the further track numbering.

Intermediate platform

An intermediate platform between two tracks, but has only one traffic edge and is the main platform is by exceeding one or more tracks ( travelers crossing - RÜ ) reachable. The track distance for this platform is less than for a central platform with two road edges. This design was common earlier, but it has provided no over-or underpass is the disadvantage that the travelers tracks exceed thereby must be backed by vehicle movements are excluded, which limits the performance of the station, especially if interchanges and connections to are ensured. Furthermore, limits the possible heights because of the necessary transitions. The minimum platform height of 38 centimeters is not always available. Especially in the old Austria - Hungary, the entire platform area was often leveled next to a platform edge at the main platform with gravel, from which protruded the rail heads. In recent decades, many intermediate platforms were replaced by free achievable level island platforms. In Germany they may not be re-established. It is therefore considered as a special case of a center platform.

Side and center platforms

More platforms are designed as either side platforms or center platforms.

Seitenbahnsteig

Side platforms (including outdoor platforms ) use only one track and, therefore, usually on a "page" of the station. Central platforms are, however, between the tracks, so that the platform serves two tracks, unless it is the intermediate platform as a special form of an agent platform.

Central platform

In a central platform (also: island platform ), there are tracks on both sides of the platform, the platform furniture including information equipment can be used for both tracks. However, side platforms do not require widening of the track spacing. Therefore, they are cheaper to apply in particular to existing routes.

If more than one central platform is available, there are different approaches to serve this. There are assignments by:

• Line, direction

• Umsteigebeziehung

Especially with short cycle times are often expensive and space-intensive Überwerfungsbauwerke are required for trains to drive the platforms in the desired manner.

Twin platform

If an edge of the platform used on both sides of the track, then one speaks of twin platforms. First, this arrangement has been applied in Spain, hence the name " Spanish solution ".

• With separation of the entry and exit ends, for example, S- Bahn München:

• Without separation of boarding and alighting passengers, for example Barcelona Metro, New York City Subway, MRT ( Singapore)
• Platform for same Umstiege to two other tracks, for example Ulzburg Station South Station and Norderstedt Mitte

Cross- platform

A special form of the platform is the so- called cross- platform at terminal stations, also called head platform. He is usually one or two reception halls in front. As the most important platform in a head station he is usually also the widest.

A cross- platform is perpendicular to the other platforms before the track ends and therefore strictly speaking not a platform, that keep him no trains; rather, it has a distribution function: From here, all other platforms are at the same height reach. He replaced the necessary passage at train stations platform accesses that are there often applied in the form of pedestrian crossings or underpasses. Rarely nevertheless find yourself still more over-or underpasses in the middle or at the outer end of the regular platforms, eg in Frankfurt (Main ) Hbf and Leipzig main station

Combined platform

A combined platform is usually an island platform, in which both sides adhere to the two different means of transport. For details see the main article.

Luggage platform

As long as the service of the railway operators included the loading of baggage and express in passenger trains, there were major stations Luggage platforms that were not intended for access by the travelers. These platforms were so highly invested that the luggage between railroad baggage cars and baggage cars could be recharged at the same level. These platforms can be found in many older stations still without use, as long as the track diagram remains unchanged ( for example, Leipzig Hauptbahnhof ).

Special shapes

In addition, special forms exist of these platform types, such as:

• Tongue platform: subsequent to a side platform means or intermediate platform
• Movable platform: platform moves depending on the user-friendly features, such as Monorail Seattle

A combined board is a specially designed platform edge that enables barrier-free entry to two different types of vehicles or transport, such as the " Dresdner combi board ".

Platform edge

The platform edge, Swiss and Perron edge is the edge of the platform, from which passengers board and leave the train. The edge of the platform is defined particularly as a structural boundary line. The platform edges have an internationally defined height in order to use car types jenach design as effectively as possible.

Method of construction

Platform tickets are now mostly made ​​of concrete. The height of the platform edge - measured from top of rail - is a mark of quality for platforms. The German railway is the platform height to their station information together with the length of the platform for each platform.

Over the railway history of both the bottom tread of passenger cars as well as the height of the platforms have been growing steadily. By this measure, the dwell time of trains at stations has decreased, since a faster entry and exit is possible. In particular, people with walker or luggage only need one step more than twice as much time compared to a same-level transition for overcoming. Especially with trains of commuting the same height of the platform edge and the passenger compartment is useful to also allow for barrier-free access.

The situation is similar in the low-floor technology, in which the passage of time, the height of the passenger compartment has moved closer to the street level, because platforms due to tight space conditions are realized in the high altitude usually not structurally.

Security

Because of the mostly high -mounted platform edge can hurt or older people who have fallen into the track area, often difficult or impossible to climb back up onto the platform. Therefore be created at many subway platforms directly below the edge of the platform shelters, in which can bring people out of the track area in protection, to avoid being run over by oncoming trains.

As a guide for the blind and visually impaired passengers about 30 inches behind the platform edge are usually admitted for the visually impaired in the soil. There is no statutory obligation to establish such conductive strip does not exist; some subway operators have voluntarily furnished.

Platform height

To allow comfortable and safe boarding passengers, the platforms over the rail level (SO ) are sorted by up to about one meter increased by route. The exact platform heights depend on the vehicles as well as the applicable legal regulations predominantly used. The typical applied platform heights are more numerous than the world applied railway gauges. A platform that is higher than about 40 inches above top of rail, is referred to as " high platform ".

The TSI " infrastructure " shall designate as nominal platform height for main-line railways within the EU that for the edge of the platform either 55 inches or 76 centimeters should be applied over top of rail with a height tolerance of -30 mm / 0 mm. The usable length of the platform is intended to be 400 meters. The implementation of the TSI INS should be completed by 2020.

In Germany, the Railway Construction and Operation (EBO ) creates a platform height of at least 38 inches fixed to a maximum of 96 centimeters. In new buildings or extensive modifications of persons platforms the platform edges should be placed to a height of 76 inches above top of rail in general; Height below 38 inches and 96 inches are not permitted. Platforms on which solely commuter trains, are to be placed to a height of 96 inches above top of rail; in the network of the Berlin S -Bahn are from previous determinations even platform heights of 1030 mm above rail level to be found.

In Switzerland, a uniform platform height of 550 mm for the standard gauge and 350 mm is intended for narrow- gauge lines.

Structural and organizational security measures

In Germany there is usually no mechanical devices to prevent the intentional or unintentional access to the track area. In many other industrialized countries, the platforms of newer metro routes by so-called platform screen doors are mechanically separated from the track area. These doors are located at the height of the car doors and not be opened until the train has stopped.

Due to the platform height is injured or elderly who have fallen into the track area, often difficult, if not impossible, to climb back again on to the platform. Therefore, directly below the edge of the platform shelters (called Krauchnischen ) are created especially in metro systems in the German-speaking countries who can bring people out of the track area in protection (eg Vienna Metro ).

In automatic metros of the track area in front of the platform is monitored electronically for persons located there (eg Nuremberg subway ).

The platforms are regularly monitored by video cameras in order to quickly provide assistance in accidents and other special events can.

As a guide for the blind and visually impaired passengers can be embedded in the floor for the visually impaired. There is no statutory obligation to establish such conductive strip does not exist; some subway operators (eg in Munich) they have voluntarily established; so far the DB AG could not to decide to establish conductive strip at all stations.

The line that marks the required environmental safety distance by moving trains, can be labeled from concrete elements such as optical and tactile highlighted strip. Such lines are to be found in Germany only to railway platforms, as there is no speed limit is for passing trains on railway station platforms - unlike metro and trams, where the trains with a maximum of 40 km / h is allowed to pass the platform without stopping ( BOStrab ).

Legal requirements to platforms

The BOStrab regulates in Germany legal minimum requirements for platforms on streets and subways and buses. This includes mandatory virtually no protection for passengers.

The third ordinance amending the Railway Construction and Operating Rules additional rules for fast rides at platforms were introduced (§ 13) in May 1991. For past journeys of more than 160 km / h and up to 200 km / h loudspeaker announcements were required the identification of areas to be kept free platform height and free platform accesses. For pass-by with more than 200 km / h, additional precautions were required to prevent travelers stay in the danger zone. In the early 1990s ran at the German Federal Railroad aerodynamic studies, the extent to which pass-by at platforms with more than 200 km / h are possible.

Austria

In the Austrian Federal Railways is called platform the platform edge in the passenger information. Until the early 1990s was how it in many other railway companies to date is the case, the term used track. Since the track numbers used internally ground the arrangement of the track numbers for the passenger was not always comprehensible not always coincide with those being advertised on the platforms or track names, the ÖBB decided to rename products. While previously, for example, platform 2, track 4, so now unified platform 4 will be used.

It is referred to separately each platform edge. Continuous platforms are numbered consecutively starting from the building Shoo away with "1". Platform edges on butt tracks in groups respectively designated consecutively within a decade. Are tracks divided on a platform edge by intermediate or protection signals, the platform name is a lowercase letter in the direction of the terminus with "a" is added in sections beginning. In contrast, given the car level gauge sectors with capital letters are called. In stations with multiple track levels the platforms are combined into groups ( 1-11 and 21-22, as well as Vienna South Vienna Handelskai 1-2 and 11-12, but not on the future Vienna Central Station ).