# Side platform > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Side_platform > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Side_platform.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side_platform > Source revision: 1335982562 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Railway platform with tracks along only one edge Side platforms with a pedestrian bridge between them A **side platform** (also known as a **marginal platform**[1] or a **single-face platform**) is a [platform](/source/Railway_platform) positioned to the side of one or more railway tracks or guideways at a railway station, [tram stop](/source/Tram_stop), [transitway](/source/Bus_rapid_transit), or [rapid transit](/source/Rapid_transit).[2] 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](/source/Island_platform) 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.[3][4] In some stations, the two side platforms are connected by a footbridge or [tunnel](/source/Subway_(crossing)) to allow safe access to the alternate platform.[3] 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 Side platform Legend Station with two tracks and two side platforms Where the station is close to a [level crossing](/source/Level_crossing) (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.[5][6] In some situations, a single side platform can be served by multiple vehicles simultaneously with a [scissors crossing](/source/Railroad_Switch#Crossover) provided to allow access mid-way along its length.[7] Larger stations may have two side platforms with several island platforms in between. Some are in a [Spanish solution](/source/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](/source/Ryde_Esplanade_railway_station).[8] - [Lysaghts railway station](/source/Lysaghts_railway_station), in Australia, with two side platforms and a [footbridge](/source/Footbridge) connecting them - [Cambronne station](/source/Cambronne_station) on [Line 6](/source/Paris_M%C3%A9tro_Line_6) of the [Paris Métro](/source/Paris_M%C3%A9tro). An example of an elevated station with side platforms. - View of [Katase-Shirata Station](/source/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 - [Ryde Esplanade railway station](/source/Ryde_Esplanade_railway_station), with one platform in use and another out of use. Ryde, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England. - [Xinzhuang Fuduxin metro station](/source/Xinzhuang_Fuduxin_metro_station) on the [Taoyuan Airport MRT](/source/Taoyuan_Airport_MRT) (Taiwan). Many stations on the Taoyuan Airport MRT use side platforms rather than an [island platform](/source/Island_platform) to better accommodate large numbers of passengers. - [Dover MRT station](/source/Dover_MRT_station) (Singapore) with two platforms in use. The station is an infill station built along an existing line; thus, it takes a side platform structure. ## See also Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Side platforms](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Side_platforms). - [Island platform](/source/Island_platform) - [Split platform](/source/Split_platform) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Longhurst, Derek (2008). [*48 months, 48 minutes : building the Perth to Mandurah railway*](https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4300108). West Perth, Western Australia: Rawlhouse Publishing. p. 303. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780958740685](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780958740685). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-ParkinsonFisher1996_2-0)** Parkinson, Tom; Fisher, Ian (1996). [*Rail Transit Capacity*](https://books.google.com/books?id=NbYqQSQcE2MC&pg=PA24). Transportation Research Board. p. 24. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-309-05718-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-309-05718-9). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RailwayTech_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RailwayTech_3-1) ["Railway Station Design"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070609114225/http://www.railway-technical.com/stations.shtml). *Railway Technical Web Pages*. Archived from [the original](http://www.railway-technical.com/stations.shtml) on June 9, 2007. Retrieved August 19, 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Railway Platform and Types"](http://www.railsystem.net/railway-platform-and-types/). *Railwaysysyem.net*. Retrieved 2017-06-30. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Railway Platform and Types |"](http://www.railsystem.net/railway-platform-and-types/). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Stations | the Railway Technical Website | PRC Rail Consulting Ltd"](http://www.railway-technical.com/infrastructure/stations.html). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["The Layout of the Station"](https://www.railwayarchive.org.uk/the-layout-of-the-station). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Delivering a better railway for a better Britain – Route Specifications 2016 Wessex"](https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Route-Specification-2016-Wessex-1.pdf) (PDF). *[Network Rail](/source/Network_Rail)*. March 2016. v t e Railway track layouts Railway track Single track Passing loop Double track Quadruple track Crossover Rail sidings Balloon loop Headshunt Pocket track Refuge siding Rail yard Classification yard Junctions Flying junction Level junction Double junction Facing and trailing Grand union Grand circle / roundabout Wye Switch / turnout / points Swingnose crossing Level crossing Stations Infill station Interchange station Terminal station Goods station Railway platform Bay Island Side Split Station layouts Balloon loop Spanish solution Cross-platform interchange Hillclimbing Horseshoe curve Zig Zag / Switchback Spiral Track geometry Track gauge Ruling gradient Minimum curve radius Cant Cant deficiency --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Side platform](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side_platform) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side_platform?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.