Continental platforms

[williamn]

Why are they generally so much lower than UK ones?

 

[northwichcat]

Some countries have double decker trains where the lower deck is closer to the ground than on a British train.

 

[gordonthemoron]

however, the lower platforms pre-date double deckers. In fact platforms used to be even lower and still are in some places

 

[Anon Mouse]

and some places don't even have platforms as such!

 

[Gordon]

Traditionally, European railways had low platforms and coaches with steps, whereas Britain had high platfroms and coaches with not much in the way of steps. I don't know what the technical reason was for that choice in Europe. Perhaps it was a way of catering for many different designs of coaches.

 

[Anon Mouse]

The platforms on some stations in Slovakia are a bit odd. Low platforms and no subway or footbridge, passengers have to physically cross the tracks using common sense, pretty novel if you ask me!

mind you I got fined 50 euros on the spot by the Railway Police at Brataslava HL, I followed the locals leaving my platform down onto a barrow crossing....I thought it was the offical exit from platform Doh!

On my last trip to China I got a train from Chengdu Naan to Pengshan. The train was longer than the platform and the staff opened the door on our carriage with a drop down onto ballast, even with steps on the carriage it was a bit difficult with luggage....imagine that here!

 

[gordonthemoron]

and some places don't even have platforms as such!

the stations between Neufahrn & Straubing in Bavaria have no platforms

 

[northwichcat]

Traditionally, European railways had low platforms and coaches with steps, whereas Britain had high platfroms and coaches with not much in the way of steps. I don't know what the technical reason was for that choice in Europe. Perhaps it was a way of catering for many different designs of coaches.

Aren't the British platforms which were low (and some have since had humps installed) because of loading/unloading freight trains in the past loading/unloading milk containers (or similar.)

 

[Hydro]

British platforms used to be really quite low, back in the day. The old platform 3 at Botley, now used as the headshunt for the stone terminal, is really low.

 

[dalmahoyhill]

Anon mouse interesting what you said about china.

my experience was similar, we travelled on sleeper trains around china 8 years ago. Our experience was 20 carriage trains with 500m long low platforms and airline style loading. everyone waits in the main station until called to a gate 10 mins before the train departs and then you had to rush to a carriage that might be 14 coaches away. Climb up the steps and get your luggage down the corridor into your cabin, it was chaos. we nearly missed a couple helping old folks onto the train.

 

[Anon Mouse]

Anon mouse interesting what you said about china.

my experience was similar, we travelled on sleeper trains around china 8 years ago. Our experience was 20 carriage trains with 500m long low platforms and airline style loading. everyone waits in the main station until called to a gate 10 mins before the train departs and then you had to rush to a carriage that might be 14 coaches away. Climb up the steps and get your luggage down the corridor into your cabin, it was chaos. we nearly missed a couple helping old folks onto the train.

Its great fun....well most of the time, not when you need to climb up a load of stairs with heavy luggage when hundreds of people are doing the same while having visions of the Hillsborough disaster due to the huge volume of people jostling through a confinded space! However my experience boarding CRH trains (high speed) is a lot better (and quicker)

Local trains are a bit more sedate when boarding/alighting, but sometimes the trains are longer than the platforms and you need to detrain where your carriage stops!