What's this dipped platform section for?

[ABB125]

I'm just passing through Karlsruhe on the overnight Zurich to Hamburg IC service. As the train arrived, I noticed that a short section of the platform island we stopped on, and the next one over (but not the one after that), has a dip. Please see the picture below. It's a terrible shot, but hopefully the dip is visible.
What is this dip for? It's at the south end of the eastern side of Karlsruhe Hbf.

 

[zwk500]

Crossing point maybe, or possibly a coupling/uncoupling location?

 

[ABB125]

Crossing point maybe, or possibly a coupling/uncoupling location?

I did wonder if it's a crossing point (for maintenance vans etc) but there's no "level crossing" infill between the rails, and surely you'd just stick the crossing point beyond the end of the platforms? Plus it doesn't go all the way across the station.
Coupling location seems more likely, as I'm in the rear coach so would be pretty close to the end of the platforms. However, I'm fairly certain there was more than one locomotive's length beyond the dip.

 

[edwin_m]

Possibly something to do with the tram-trains? Not sure what the position is now, but when I visited 20+ years ago there was a tram-train service that called at the Hauptbahnhof without going onto street, and the vehicle floor was lower than the platforms.

How long was the dipped section? A tram-train is about 38m long IIRC.

 

[stuu]

Crossing points at mid platform aren't unusual, especially for staff. It may be that the crossing has been removed but some platforms not rebuilt

 

[edwin_m]

A crossing point would normally go right down to rail level, but this one is significantly higher.

 

[zwk500]

A crossing point would normally go right down to rail level, but this one is significantly higher.

Is it? It looks to me near enough level with the top edge, looking at the alignment between the Triangular tabs at either end with the rail and platform edges.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is it? It looks to me near enough level with the top edge, looking at the alignment between the Triangular tabs at either end with the rail and platform edges.

In some places in Germany (though I couldn't tell you where) I've seen crossing points where the platform dips but not to rail level, rather to its original level of about 1' above rail, and a step is added as well. Could have been that?

Other option, if it doesn't go back up, is that they only raised part of it.

 

[ABB125]

Possibly something to do with the tram-trains? Not sure what the position is now, but when I visited 20+ years ago there was a tram-train service that called at the Hauptbahnhof without going onto street, and the vehicle floor was lower than the platforms.

How long was the dipped section? A tram-train is about 38m long IIRC.

I don't think it's to do with tram trains, as the "level section" of the dip is long enough for about 1 door!

Crossing points at mid platform aren't unusual, especially for staff. It may be that the crossing has been removed but some platforms not rebuilt

A crossing point would normally go right down to rail level, but this one is significantly higher.

Is it? It looks to me near enough level with the top edge, looking at the alignment between the Triangular tabs at either end with the rail and platform edges.

In some places in Germany (though I couldn't tell you where) I've seen crossing points where the platform dips but not to rail level, rather to its original level of about 1' above rail, and a step is added as well. Could have been that?

Other option, if it doesn't go back up, is that they only raised part of it.

Obviously I was on a train and only noticed out of the corner of my eye, but I would guess that the edge was maybe 5-10cm above rail height

 

[edwin_m]

I don't think it's to do with tram trains, as the "level section" of the dip is long enough for about 1 door!

Agree that makes it unlikely. And now I've zoomed in the photo some more, I agree it's nearly down to rail level and I think I can even see some brackets between the rails that might have been for fixing crossing panels.

 

[nicholaswood]

I think it is a crossing point. This view from Google Street View makes it seem a bit more clear.

The square fenced off area in the link appears to be the same one that's shown in the left of the original photo.

 

[paul_munich]

Here you see it from the cabine: Youtube
I guess it's in order to give access to a subway...