Why are British-style high-level platforms so rare?

[williamn]

Just wondered - why are high level platforms, which are level with train doors, such a rarity outside of the UK? It seems kind of obviously better - why build platforms that require fold-down steps or a little stool (as often used in Canada)?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Just wondered - why are high level platforms, which are level with train doors, such a rarity outside of the UK? It seems kind of obviously better - why build platforms that require fold-down steps or a little stool (as often used in Canada)?

The Netherlands, Russia and China are high platform countries. Germany is also switching to high platforms, though not quite as high as ours.

Switzerland OTOH uses low floor rolling stock to give level boarding from low platforms on most of its regional services, when we don't even manage it from our high ones!

 

[Cowley]

We had quite an interesting thread on this subject recently but I can’t find it at the moment.

 

[superalbs]

We had quite an interesting thread on this subject recently but I can’t find it at the moment.

This will be it:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...igher-platforms-than-on-the-continent.162973/

(Did a Google search for 'why high platforms site:railforums.co.uk'.)

 

[Cowley]

This will be it:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...igher-platforms-than-on-the-continent.162973/

(Did a Google search for 'why high platforms site:railforums.co.uk'.)

Thanks Superalbs