Zurich - Platform 3 - bend

[cb a1]

Saw this post on LinkedIn and wondered if the hive brain of RailUKforums might have a definitive answer to why there's an odd kink in the rails (and platform) near the end of platform 3 at Zurich station?

There are some theories posed on the LinkedIn post.

 

[Flying Snail]

I would guess that the concrete between the rails is part of the support structure for the station/undercroft.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Yes, the 'undercroft' here is the extension of the underground station to permit the direct tunnel to Oerlikon, which meant 4 new through platforms being slotted in alongside the SZU station and the River Sihl. So fairly tricky engineering; the undercroft is huge and has its own shopping areas, lifts. etc. etc.. It was finished about a decade ago.

So I would suppose that the infra close to buffer stops was retained with measurements from before this scheme but the track beyond it was slewed to the East by c.20 cm (East is to the RHS of this photo). Saved a bit of concrete and kept the platform width at that end of the platform. Clearly, the track here is slow speed and so it doesn't matter much!

 

[30907]

So I would suppose that the infra close to buffer stops was retained with measurements from before this scheme but the track beyond it was slewed to the East by c.20 cm (East is to the RHS of this photo). Saved a bit of concrete and kept the platform width at that end of the platform. Clearly, the track here is slow speed and so it doesn't matter much!

Another factor will be the subway access visible adjacent to the slew - you wouldn't want to narrow the platform unnecessarily at that point, so another reason for the slightly less aesthetically pleasing, but perfectly safe, kink.

 

[Cricketer8for9]

Former engine release crossover, with the kink to allow the released engine not to foul the platform?