What are the advantages and disadvantages of a curved platform?

Question

I noticed in Europe more curved platforms. I really don't see any here. (US)

Answer 1

There are no advantages. The reason you see more curved platforms, especially in the UK, is partly due to space constraints - we are a much smaller country and railways were often built through exisiting infrastructure. You also get curving platforms at junctions where on platform was built in the 'vee' of joining lines, before the physical junction. We even had platforms set in the middle of a triangular junction. Have a look at the pictures here:- http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stati...

of Morfa Mawdach station, which was one such, but lost the services on two sides of the junction many years ago.

Answer 2

More "mind the gap" dangers; i.e. the gap between the coaches and the platform.  They are probably an engineering challenge too because curved platforms limit the length of coaches that can be operated.

Answer 3

Our local train station has a curved platform, (poor planning,) and mostly the trains are on the inside of the curve so that you can not see along all the train standing at one end.

That makes the step getting into the train much higher, and the train staff can not see all the train to check the doors have all closed without people getting stuck, without crossing all the platform.

The rare times the train is on the other side of the platform the entrances are relatively low, (still a good step upwards, but that is the system here,) and there is a much easier overview on all the train.

If the entrance to the trains is level, as it is with many train systems, the height of the platform needs to be adjusted to the curve of the platform, and if the doors are on the ends of the cars there might be more of a gap.