Trivia: Stations in other countries that have tracks with platforms on both sides?

[stadler]

The main railway station in Tallinn in Estonia has a unique setup where they have platforms on both sides of many tracks and the doors open on both sides. So you can board and alight on either side and even walk through the train from one platform to another.

We have a couple of these in the UK but only one side ever gets used. Guildford for example has P6 and P7 sharing the same track but the doors only open on the P6 side and P7 remains unused.

But this has me wondering if there are any other stations in other countries where the doors get opened on both sides? All i can think of is a few airport monorail systems but i wonder whether Tallinn in Estonia is unique for a mainline system?

 

[rvdborgt]

München Hbf, S-Bahn platforms (tracks 1 and 2, in the tunnel).

 

[HS2isgood]

Llano del Beal in the Cartagena - Los Nietos line in Spain

 

[The exile]

München Hbf, S-Bahn platforms (tracks 1 and 2, in the tunnel).

These are designed for “exit on one side; enter from the other” aren’t they?

 

[dutchflyer]

Correct. This is also kind of regulated with sequence of opening doors and guiding boarders-though of course regulars much ´in the know´ have also found ways to sneak around that. I kind of think this is also on some other S-bahn systems in Germany with very high pax loads, but others may know more details. Smart system-as I was quite a few times lately in Leipzig-which also has a deep lying S-bahn beside the old ´Kopf=head on´ station, but with classis mid-platform, much more time-eating in finding your ay in/out.
There are other-much more antique-cases where a low side platform was once used for loading mails, luggages etc, away from the pax.

 

[67thave]

In New York City, tracks 2 and 7 at Jamaica station on the Long Island Rail Road have platforms on both sides of the tracks, with most, if not all, trains opening their doors on both sides.

 

[izvor]

The new station at Kyiv Borispol airport had 1 line (of 2) with a platform either side. If this was intended for board/alight purposes I don't remember it being enforced while I was there.

With the airport now closed since Russia's invasion of 2022 I would guess the station is too.



== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Oct 2025 ==

We have a couple of these in the UK but only one side ever gets used.

Don't forget Stratford (London, Central Line) where the doors do open both sides.

 

[Taunton]

In New York City, tracks 2 and 7 at Jamaica station on the Long Island Rail Road have platforms on both sides of the tracks, with most, if not all, trains opening their doors on both sides.

This was for the same reason as Finsbury Park in London, and I have wondered if one inspired the other. In previous times, in peak periods, three trains were timetabled into the latter together from Kings Cross, Moorgate and Broad Street, and departed onward to Enfield, Welwyn and Edgware, with a couple of minutes dwell time while passengers connected between them, including going through the one in the middle with platforms on both sides. Same in opposite direction, and I believe both were specifically advertised as such.

At Jamaica in New York City three trains came in from Penn Station, Atlantic Terminal, and Long Island City (the diesels), and went on to the various outer suburbs branches down the system.

 

[AdamWW]

, including going through the one in the middle with platforms on both sides.

I've certainly done that on the DLR. Canary Wharf I think.

I imagine a list of stations in the world with boarding on both sides of a train could get quite long, but I'll mention Sinaia in Romania which has a (to me) curious arrangement.

There are two island platforms. The nearest track to the station building has an island platform on the opposite side to the building, which is where trains are shown as calling at and where the platform departure board is, but it has the platform in front of the station building on the other side of the track and this is where almost everyone gets on or off.

I tried opening a door on a DMU on the "official" side on one train and it didn't seem to work.

But on the CFR loco hauled stock the doors release on both sides anyway whether there's a platform there or not.

 

[Tester]

Japan has many examples of this, particularly on urban private railways.

Type 1 - Terminal stations, where there are separate boarding and alighting platforms. Examples Namba (Osaka) on the Nankai Railway, and Kamata (Tokyo) on the Tokyu Railway.

Type 2a - Through stations where 'cross-platform' interchange is provided between three trains, with the middle train having doors open both sides. Example Amagasaki (Hyogo) on the Hanshin Railway.

Type 2b - Junction stations where the branch train has cross-platform interchange with main line trains in both directions by being in the centre (also minimising conflicts). Example Chayamachi (Okayama) on JR-West.

 

[A S Leib]

Track 5 at Rastatt near Karlsruhe has disembarkment on both sides.

 

[MarcVD]

If subway examples are allowed - most stations of metro line 3 in Brussels, from Brussels South to Brussels North, have platforms on both sides of the tracks.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

More metro examples in the Wikipedia entry:

Spanish solution - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[zero]

Until 2012 Jurong East station on the Singapore MRT had a set up similar to Canary Wharf DLR, where the Branch line trains terminated in a middle platform and opened their doors on both sides.

The station has since been expanded and I do not really understand how it works now from the track layout as stated on Wikipedia.

 

[Terry Tibbs]

Warsaw Srodmiescie is set up in this way too on both platforms. Doors open both sides on all trains.

 

[Gordon]

We have a couple of these in the UK but only one side ever gets used. Guildford for example has P6 and P7 sharing the same track but the doors only open on the P6 side and P7 remains unused.

Morden , LU Northern Line doors open both sides. Used to happen at Norwood Junction main line but not allowed now AFAIK

 

[AdamWW]

Morden , LU Northern Line doors open both sides. Used to happen at Norwood Junction main line but not allowed now AFAIK

I think there is a reluctance now to have doors opening onto the same side as the third rail - understandably so.

 

[zwk500]

I think there is a reluctance now to have doors opening onto the same side as the third rail - understandably so.

It does seem a little strange that LU are allowed to do it though (believe the Central Line also opens doors on both sides at Stratford on at least one direction) given they have also have a 3rd rail! Presumably the much smaller gap between LU platforms and trains is considered sufficient mitigation?

 

[AdamWW]

It does seem a little strange that LU are allowed to do it though (believe the Central Line also opens doors on both sides at Stratford on at least one direction) given they have also have a 3rd rail! Presumably the much smaller gap between LU platforms and trains is considered sufficient mitigation?

They also get away with yellow lines in a position that would get me yelled at if I stood there on a National Rail station with a train arriving. Different rules it seems.

(Also a lower voltage with the voltage difference split across the four rails. Or is that just in cast tunnel sections?)

 

[Tester]

One would think that the risk with a conductor rail next to a platform is in fact reduced by the presence of a train!

 

[D1511]

I've often used a Central line train as a passageway leading to a quicker exit down to Meridian Sq, avoiding the crowded subway!

 

[AdamWW]

One would think that the risk with a conductor rail next to a platform is in fact reduced by the presence of a train!

Depends on how big the gap to mind is, I'd say.

 

[Tester]

Depends on how big the gap to mind is, I'd say.

The gap can't possibly be bigger than with no train present!

 

[AdamWW]

The gap can't possibly be bigger than with no train present!

No it can't but there isn't much reason to be anywhere near it unless getting on or off a train.

 

[izvor]

It struck me as bizarre when the Guildford P6/P7 rule was introduced just as the "heritage" DMMUs (which were the main users of the track) were replaced with the Turbos. Ok, so you couldn't enforce the rule with slam-door stock, but surely it would be safer as the guard could ensure one side was clear for departure, then the other? I agree the third rail excuse is rather a false flag.

The first time I got caught out by this at Guildford, the guard was luckily watching the P7 side and very kindly let me in through the rear cab.

Back on International topics, I remember a Portuguese lady saying (probably on a radio programme) that she always realised she was back in her home country when the train would pull into a station and everybody would pile out onto the opposite side to the platform! I am sure you could still repeat this for many countries in Europe and elsewhere that still have manual doors on carriages.

 

[zwk500]

It struck me as bizarre when the Guildford P6/P7 rule was introduced just as the "heritage" DMMUs (which were the main users of the track) were replaced with the Turbos. Ok, so you couldn't enforce the rule with slam-door stock, but surely it would be safer as the guard could ensure one side was clear for departure, then the other?

Clearing both sides does lead to a delay in the despatch process.

I agree the third rail excuse is rather a false flag.

I wouldn't say a false flag, but perhaps slightly overhyping the risk. However there is a significant gap between National Rail trains and the platform edge that doesn't exist with london underground stock except at a handful of stations.

 

[izvor]

Clearing both sides does lead to a delay in the despatch process.

Well, a few seconds maybe. But anyway, that was the status quo ante! Would still have been quicker, and safer, than what went before with 2 sides of slam doors to monitor.

I wouldn't say a false flag, but perhaps slightly overhyping the risk. However there is a significant gap between National Rail trains and the platform edge that doesn't exist with london underground stock except at a handful of stations.

IIRC Guildford P7 is dead straight. I would wager that over 99% of the people who fall off the platform onto the live rail there do so when there is no train in the platform.

Anyway, this is a 30-year old argument, and I lost! It's just very frustrating making a connection at GLD, seeing your train directly opposite (the whole purpose of the double-sided platform), yet having to use the long ramps or the stairs to access it - and quite likely see it pulling away.

 

[zwk500]

Well, a few seconds maybe. But anyway, that was the status quo ante! Would still have been quicker, and safer, than what went before with 2 sides of slam doors to monitor.

A bit more than that, as the doors on each side would need to be closed separately if under a single person to watch for runners.

IIRC Guildford P7 is dead straight. I would wager that over 99% of the people who fall off the platform onto the live rail there do so when there is no train in the platform.

I suspect not, because most people are going to be nowhere near the platform edge unless there is a train at the platform to board. But I don't have the stats to hand.

Anyway, this is a 30-year old argument, and I lost! It's just very frustrating making a connection at GLD, seeing your train directly opposite (the whole purpose of the double-sided platform), yet having to use the long ramps or the stairs to access it - and quite likely see it pulling away.

If it's a valid connection you should have time to get up and over the bridge. If not the connectional allowance needs reviewing.

 

[izvor]

If it's a valid connection you should have time to get up and over the bridge.

Well, thanks. So much for passenger convenience. It's box-tickers 1, passengers 0.

 

[AdamWW]

If it's a valid connection you should have time to get up and over the bridge. If not the connectional allowance needs reviewing.

Only in an imaginary world in which trains always arrive on time.

And there's nothing wrong with wanting to making a connection with a time below the allowance.

Well, thanks. So much for passenger convenience. It's box-tickers 1, passengers 0.

Remember - the pasenger is always in the wrong.