Tag:railway=platform_edge

railway = platform_edge

Description

Edge of a platform where trains stop and passengers can enter or exit a train.

Group: railways

Used on these elements

Useful combination

ref=*
height=*
tactile_paving=*

Why Do We Need This Tag?

Currently platforms are modeled as unclosed ways or areas (closed ways and multipolygons). If it is an island platform, it is currently tagged with the numbers of all tracks which use this platform. That's why there is a problem both for computer programs and humans which track is on which side. In some cases an island platform has more than two tracks using it (sounds strange if you rarely travel by train).

How to Map

railway=platform with ref=2 consisting of two railway=platform_edges with refs 6 and 5 in Gliwice, Poland.

The platform is mapped as an area (typically a multipolygon) with the following tags:

railway=platform
ref=* – all platform edge numbers separated by semicolons (e.g. ref=5;6), unless platforms have their own numbering scheme independent of platform edge numbering scheme (e.g. in Poland), then platform number (e.g. ref=2).

Optional tags of the platform area:

surface=*
tactile_paving=*
wheelchair=* (wheelchair accessibility of the platform, doesn't mean that the platform height matches the doors of the train)

Parts of the platform outline which

are either not parallel to a railway track or
are not used by passengers to enter/exit a train (e.g. because doors are not opened on that side or there is a fence)

must not be mapped as platform edges.

All ways parallel to a railway track which are used to enter/exit trains get railway=platform_edge + ref=*. These platform edges can have following optional tags:

tactile_paving=*
height=<height in metre> height above the rails

Such ways must share nodes with the platform outline or be a member of the platform multipolygon.

Examples

Cases Where You Don't Need This Tag

platform 1a+1b in Sinsheim Museum/Arena station, Germany. One platform is 76 cm high, the other one only 55 cm because this platform is served by a light rail and a normal train.