Spanish solution
Encyclopedia
The Spanish solution is a method of using two railway platforms
, one on each side of the track, in order to speed up boarding and alighting from trains. Alighting passengers get off the train on one side and boarding passengers get on from the other. If there are three platforms (one island platform
and two side platform
s) shared between two tracks, then generally the center platform will be a shared exit platform, as there is no benefit in segregating arriving passengers from different destinations. At most locations the doors that let passengers in open a few seconds after those that have opened to allow the passengers to exit.
The principle was used in Europe for the first time in 1890 at King William Street tube station
in London.
The solution was also used outside of Europe as early as 1912 at Park Street Under station on the MBTA's Red Line
in Boston
(now known simply as Park Street
), and at the Chambers Street station on the New York City Subway
in 1913 (in the latter case, the center platform is now closed).
On people mover
systems at airports there is often a system where dedicated platforms are provided for boarding and alighting. This can have the additional advantage of preventing travellers unused to the airport layout becoming confused and heading in the wrong direction when alighting, as well as ensuring passenger segregation. The same principle is often used on ferry
, monorail
, and cable car
services, as well as other modes of transport, fairground rides such as roller coasters, and even in buildings such as theaters.
on the São Paulo Metro
is a recent example. Line 1 Blue
(Linha 1 - Azul, Norte-Sul) or North-South has used this model in some stations, like Sé station, a high movimented station due to Line 3 integration, also the Line 3 - Red
/ Linha 3 - Vermelha or East-West (Linha Leste-Oeste) used this in some stations, like Sé itself, Republic Station
(Estação República), Itaquera Station
, Barra Funda Station
, Luz Station
, etc.
In Hong Kong
, the former KCRC
(now acquired by MTR Corporation
) reconstructed the platforms of the checkpoint terminus, Lo Wu Station by applying a similar layout. When the train stops, only the doors towards the island platform (alighting zone) open and all passengers on the train get off. Then the doors close and the opposite doors against the side platform (boarding zone) open for loading new passengers.
In France
, the principle is applied at Jean Jaurès station on the Toulouse Metro
, where Lines A and B connect. On the Line B platforms, passengers embark from an island platform a few seconds after passengers disembark onto a side platform.
Japan
Hong Kong
Malaysia
India
Denmark
France
Germany
Greece
Omonoia station
on the ISAP
line in Athens
.
Poland
United Kingdom
In addition there are some locations where there are two platforms for one track, but passengers can board and alight from either side.
United States
Other stations, mainly express stations on three-track lines, have a Spanish solution for the middle track, however trains often only open the doors on one side, depending on the direction of travel. Two examples of terminal stations that retain a Spanish solution are the N
, R
platforms at South Ferry - Whitehall Street
(although since the elimination of the W
train in June of 2010, no regular services terminate at the station), and Flushing – Main Street – the terminal for the 7
train.
Mexico
Railway platform
A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. Almost all stations for rail transport have some form of platforms, with larger stations having multiple platforms...
, one on each side of the track, in order to speed up boarding and alighting from trains. Alighting passengers get off the train on one side and boarding passengers get on from the other. If there are three platforms (one island platform
Island platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
and two side platform
Side platform
A Side platform is a platform positioned to the side of a pair of tracks at a railway station, a tram stop or a transitway. A pair of side platforms are often provided on a dual track line with a single side platform being sufficient for a single track line...
s) shared between two tracks, then generally the center platform will be a shared exit platform, as there is no benefit in segregating arriving passengers from different destinations. At most locations the doors that let passengers in open a few seconds after those that have opened to allow the passengers to exit.
The principle was used in Europe for the first time in 1890 at King William Street tube station
King William Street tube station
King William Street was the original but short-lived northern terminus of the City & South London Railway , the first deep tube underground railway in London and one of the component parts of the London Underground's Northern Line. It was in the City of London, on King William Street, just south...
in London.
The solution was also used outside of Europe as early as 1912 at Park Street Under station on the MBTA's Red Line
Red Line (MBTA)
The Red Line is a rapid transit line operated by the MBTA running roughly north-south through Boston, Massachusetts into neighboring communities. The line begins west of Boston, in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Alewife station, near the intersection of Alewife Brook Parkway and Route 2...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
(now known simply as Park Street
Park Street (MBTA station)
Park Street is a rapid transit and light rail station of the MBTA subway system in Downtown Boston. One of the four subway hub stations, Park Street is a transfer point between the Green and Red Lines. Park Street is the fourth-busiest station in the MBTA network, with an average of 19,836 entries...
), and at the Chambers Street station on the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
in 1913 (in the latter case, the center platform is now closed).
On people mover
People mover
A people mover or automated people mover is a fully automated, grade-separated mass transit system.The term is generally used only to describe systems serving relatively small areas such as airports, downtown districts or theme parks, but is sometimes applied to considerably more complex automated...
systems at airports there is often a system where dedicated platforms are provided for boarding and alighting. This can have the additional advantage of preventing travellers unused to the airport layout becoming confused and heading in the wrong direction when alighting, as well as ensuring passenger segregation. The same principle is often used on ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
, monorail
Monorail
A monorail is a rail-based transportation system based on a single rail, which acts as its sole support and its guideway. The term is also used variously to describe the beam of the system, or the vehicles traveling on such a beam or track...
, and cable car
Cable car
A cable car is any of a variety of transportation systems relying on cables to pull vehicles along or lower them at a steady rate, or a vehicle on these systems.-Aerial lift:Aerial lifts where the vehicle is suspended in the air from a cable:...
services, as well as other modes of transport, fairground rides such as roller coasters, and even in buildings such as theaters.
Examples
Sé central stationSé (São Paulo Metro)
Sé is a station on Line 1 and Line 3 of the São Paulo Metro....
on the São Paulo Metro
São Paulo Metro
The São Paulo Metro is the principal rapid-transit system in the city of São Paulo and the largest in Brazil. It is also the second largest system in South America and the third largest in Latin America, behind Mexico City and Santiago....
is a recent example. Line 1 Blue
Line 1 (São Paulo Metro)
Line 1 - Blue was the first line built for the São Paulo Metro. It links Tucuruvi Station to Jabaquara Station. Construction began in the late 1960s and was completed in the early 1970s. It was also the first metro line built in Brazil.-History:...
(Linha 1 - Azul, Norte-Sul) or North-South has used this model in some stations, like Sé station, a high movimented station due to Line 3 integration, also the Line 3 - Red
Line 3 (São Paulo Metro)
Line 3 of the São Paulo Metro covers the stretch of the metro network between Palmeiras-Barra Funda and Corinthians-Itaquera. It was formerly called the East-West Line...
/ Linha 3 - Vermelha or East-West (Linha Leste-Oeste) used this in some stations, like Sé itself, Republic Station
República (São Paulo Metro)
República is a station on Line 3 of the São Paulo Metro and in the Line 4 ....
(Estação República), Itaquera Station
Corinthians-Itaquera (São Paulo Metro)
Corinthians-Itaquera ou just Itaquera is a station on Line 3 of the São Paulo Metro and is the terminus.-CPTM Transfer:Passengers may transfer from here to, Line 11 of the CPTM commuter train.-SPTrans Lines:...
, Barra Funda Station
Palmeiras-Barra Funda (São Paulo Metro)
Palmeiras-Barra Funda ou just Barra Funda is a station on Line 3 of the São Paulo Metro and is the current terminus. The metro station is inside the Palmeiras-Barra Funda Intermodal Terminal, a major transit station in São Paulo. The complex contains municipal, intercity, and metropolitan bus...
, Luz Station
Luz (São Paulo Metro)
Luz is a station on Line 1 of the São Paulo Metro. Construction of Line 4 will result in Luz being the northern terminus of Line 4 - Yellow. The station is connected to the Luz Station in São Paulo....
, etc.
In Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, the former KCRC
Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation
The Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation was established in 1982 under the Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance for the purposes of operating the Kowloon–Canton Railway , and to construct and operate other new railways...
(now acquired by MTR Corporation
MTR Corporation
MTR Corporation Limited is a company listed on the Hong Kong Exchange and included in the Hang Seng Index. MTR owns and runs the Hong Kong MTR metro system, and is also a major property developer and landlord in Hong Kong...
) reconstructed the platforms of the checkpoint terminus, Lo Wu Station by applying a similar layout. When the train stops, only the doors towards the island platform (alighting zone) open and all passengers on the train get off. Then the doors close and the opposite doors against the side platform (boarding zone) open for loading new passengers.
In France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the principle is applied at Jean Jaurès station on the Toulouse Metro
Toulouse Metro
The Toulouse metro serves the city of Toulouse, France, and some of the surrounding area. The city's public transport system was initially managed by Société d'économie mixte des voyageurs de l'agglomération toulousaine , which was a company that was 80% owned by local government bodies and 20%...
, where Lines A and B connect. On the Line B platforms, passengers embark from an island platform a few seconds after passengers disembark onto a side platform.
Asia
People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
- The Gongyuanqian stationGongyuanqian StationGongyuanqian Station , literally Parkfront Station in English, is an interchange station of Line 1 and Line 2 of the Guangzhou Metro. It started operations on 28 June 1999...
of Guangzhou MetroGuangzhou MetroGuangzhou Metro is the metro system of the city of Guangzhou in Guangdong Province of China. It is operated by the state-owned Guangzhou Metro Corporation and was the fourth metro system to be built in mainland China, after those of Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai.The earliest effort of preparation...
, where doors open on one side for exit only, then on the other side for entry only. - In ShanghaiShanghaiShanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, the southbound Line 8 platform of People's SquarePeople's Square (Shanghai Metro)People's Square is the name of a large interchange station of the Shanghai Metro, located below People's Square in the city center of Shanghai...
Metro station works somewhat like this; doors open on both sides, but passengers enter only from the left, encouraging exit from the right only. - Luohu StationLuohu StationLuohu Station is a terminus of Shenzhen Metro Luobao Line. It started operations on 28 December 2004. It is located at the underground of the junction of Luohu Port and Shenzhen Railway Station East Plaza in Luohu District, Shenzhen, China. It gives access to Shenzhen Railway Station to take...
and Futian Checkpoint Station of Shenzhen MetroShenzhen MetroThe Shenzhen Metro is the subway or underground system for the city of Shenzhen in Guangdong province, China. The system opened on 28 December 2004, making Shenzhen the seventh city in mainland China to have a subway after Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Dalian, and Wuhan. The Shenzhen... - Xizhimen StationXizhimen StationXizhimen Station is an interchange station for Line 2, Line 4 and Line 13 of the Beijing Subway. Just outside of this station is Beijing North Railway Station....
, the western terminus for Line 13Line 13, Beijing SubwayLine 13 of the Beijing Subway , also known as the CityRail Line , is a metro line that serves the northern suburbs of Beijing. On a map, Line 13's route is shaped like an inverted U that arcs north of the city and connects residential suburbs in Haidian, Changping and Chaoyang Districts with the...
of the Beijing SubwayBeijing SubwayThe Beijing Subway is a rapid transit rail network that serves the urban and suburban districts of Beijing municipality. It is owned by the city of Beijing and has two operators, the wholly state owned Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corp., which operates 12 lines, and the Beijing MTR...
, does something similar. When a train arrives, the doors will open on one side for all passengers to get off since this is the terminal station for this line. Shortly after those doors have closed, the doors will open on the other side to allow DongzhimenDongzhimen StationDongzhimen Station is an interchange station for Line 2, Line 13 and the Airport Express of the Beijing Subway.Dongzhimen is the eastern terminus for Line 13 service. It is also the only underground station on the line. There are two side platforms in the Line 13 station. One is for customers...
bound passengers on an island platform to board the empty train. - Beijing subway airport express terminal 3 station
- Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3 shuttle
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
- Ikebukuro StationIkebukuro Stationis a railway station located in the Ikebukuro district of Toshima, Tokyo, Japan. With 2.71 million passengers on an average daily in 2007, it is the second-busiest train station in the world , and the busiest station in the Tobu, Seibu and Tokyo Metro networks. It primarily serves commuters from...
on the Seibu Ikebukuro LineSeibu Ikebukuro LineThe is a commuter railway line of the Japanese private railway operator Seibu Railway. It originates at Ikebukuro Station, a large railway junction in north-western Tokyo, extending to northwest suburbs as far as Tokorozawa, Saitama, and nominally terminates at Agano Station.The Seibu Chichibu...
and Tōbu Tōjō Line - Tōkyū Tōyoko Line's terminus at Shibuya StationShibuya Stationis a train station located in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. With 2.4 million passengers on an average weekday in 2004, it is the fourth-busiest commuter rail station in Japan handling a large amount of commuter traffic between the center city and suburbs to the south and west.-JR East:*Saikyō Line /...
- Keiō Line's terminus at Shinjuku StationShinjuku Stationis a train station located in Shinjuku and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, Japan.Serving as the main connecting hub for rail traffic between central Tokyo and its western suburbs on inter-city rail, commuter rail and metro lines, the station was used by an average of 3.64 million people per day in 2007,...
- Odakyu Line's terminus at Shinjuku StationShinjuku Stationis a train station located in Shinjuku and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, Japan.Serving as the main connecting hub for rail traffic between central Tokyo and its western suburbs on inter-city rail, commuter rail and metro lines, the station was used by an average of 3.64 million people per day in 2007,...
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
- Lo Wu Station of MTRMTRMass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
Malaysia
- AeroTrainAerotrain (KLIA)The Aerotrain is a driverless people mover system located within the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia.Opened in 1998, the Aerotrain consists of two stations, one in the Main Terminal Building and the other in Satellite Building A. The system transports passengers between the two...
, Kuala Lumpur International AirportKuala Lumpur International AirportKuala Lumpur International Airport , or KLIA serves the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, and is one of Southeast Asia's largest airports. It is also Malaysia's main international airport. It is situated in the Sepang district, in the south of the state of Selangor, about from Kuala Lumpur...
India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
- Chhatrapati Shivaji TerminusChhatrapati Shivaji TerminusThe Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus , is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic railway station in Mumbai which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. Situated in the Bori Bunder area of Mumbai, it was built as a new railway station on the location of the Bori Bunder Station in 1887...
Australia
AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
- Olympic Park railway station, Sydney
- Skitube stations at Bullocks Flat and Perisher Valley
- Glanville, BrightonBrighton railway station, AdelaideBrighton railway station on the Noarlunga Centre railway line in the south-western Adelaide suburbs is 16.0 km by railway from Adelaide Railway Station...
and Noarlunga CentreNoarlunga Centre InterchangeNoarlunga Centre Interchange is the terminus of the Noarlunga Centre line, a part of the suburban railway system in Adelaide, South Australia....
in AdelaideAdelaideAdelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
(one track only)
Europe
BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
- PremetroPremetroA premetro is a tramway or light railway which includes segments built to rapid transit standards, usually as part of a process of conversion to a metro railway, mainly by the construction of tunnels in the central city area...
tram stations between Brussels-South and Brussels-NorthBrussels-North railway stationBruxelles-Nord / Brussel-Noord is one of the three major railway stations in Brussels; the other two are Brussels Central and Brussels South...
on the North-South Brussels MetroBrussels MetroThe Brussels Metro is a rapid transit system serving a large part of the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. It consists of a network with four metro line services with some shared sections. The metro has 49.9 km of network and 59 stations...
, and RogierRogier metro stationThe Rogier metro station is an Brussels metro station on the northern segment of line 2 which also serves tram lines on the north-south axis. It opened as a premetro on 18 August 1974 and became a full metro station on 2 October 1988...
station on Line 2
Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
- Holte StationHolte stationHolte station is the railway station in Holte near Copenhagen, Denmark. It is served by S-trains on the Hillerød radial....
on the S-train line B, North of CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
- Jean Jaurès station of B line in Toulouse MetroToulouse MetroThe Toulouse metro serves the city of Toulouse, France, and some of the surrounding area. The city's public transport system was initially managed by Société d'économie mixte des voyageurs de l'agglomération toulousaine , which was a company that was 80% owned by local government bodies and 20%...
- Hôtel de ville - Louis Pradel station of C line in Lyon MetroLyon MetroThe Lyon metro, in Lyon, France, first opened in 1978 and now consists of four lines. It is part of the Transports en Commun Lyonnais system of public transport, and is supported by a network of tramways....
- Charles de Gaulle – Étoile station of Paris Métro Line 6Paris Metro Line 6Line 6 is one of the sixteen lines of the Paris Métro rapid transit system. Following a semi-circular route around the southern half of the city above boulevards formed by ancient city walls , it runs from Charles de Gaulle – Étoile in the west and Nation in the east.Opened between 1900 and 1906...
Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
- Stations of the S-BahnMunich S-BahnThe Munich S-Bahn is an electric rail transit system in Munich, Germany. "S-Bahn" is the German abbreviation for stadtschnellbahn , and the Munich S-Bahn exhibits characteristics of both rapid transit and commuter rail systems.The Munich S-Bahn network is operated by S-Bahn München, a subsidiary...
in MunichMunichMunich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
: München HauptbahnhofMünchen HauptbahnhofMunich Central Station is the main railway station of the city of Munich in Germany. It is one of the three long distance train stations in Munich, the others being München-Pasing and München Ost. The station sees about 350,000 passengers a day, which puts it on par with other large stations in...
, KarlsplatzMünchen Karlsplatz railway stationMünchen Karlsplatz is an underground S-Bahn and U-Bahn station below the Karlsplatz in central Munich. It is one of the busiest stations in Munich, as it is located at the western end of Munich's Altstadt ....
, Marienplatz (though at Marienplatz eastbound and westbound tracks are actually on different levels each with a platform on both sides of the track) - Stations of the Stuttgart StadtbahnStuttgart StadtbahnThe Stuttgart Stadtbahn is a light rail system in Stuttgart, Germany. It is operated by the Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG , which also operates the bus systems in that city...
: Station Pragsattel, Station Mineralbäder
Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
Omonoia station
Omonoia station
Omonoia station is a subway station in Omonoia square of Athens used by Attiko Metro and ISAP.The first station opened 1895 but had been completely redesigned until 1930 as a Metro station. In 2000 the additional platforms for Line 2 was opened....
on the ISAP
ISAP
I.S.A.P. is the acronym for the Athens-Piraeus Electric Railways , the oldest urban rapid transit system of Athens metropolitan area in Greece. It is the second-oldest underground metro system in the world, after the Metropolitan Railway, of 1863, now a part of the London Underground...
line in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
.
Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
- Warszawa ŚródmieścieWarszawa Sródmiescie PKP stationWarsaw Śródmieście is a railway station in Warsaw, Poland in the district of Śródmieście. The station serves the suburban tracks of the Warsaw Cross-City Line, used by regional trains run by Koleje Mazowieckie and Szybka Kolej Miejska...
in WarsawWarsawWarsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
– for many years, until late 1980s1980sFile:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
, separation of boarding and disembarking passengers was enforced by opening train doors on to the centre platform first, and doors on to the side platform after a delay
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
- Tower Gateway stationTower Gateway DLR stationTower Gateway is a Docklands Light Railway station near the Tower of London. It is in Travelcard Zone 1. It adjoins the tracks to Fenchurch Street station and is on the site of the closed Minories railway station....
is the only true example. It was rebuilt converting it from a two platform island terminus to a two platform single-track terminus
In addition there are some locations where there are two platforms for one track, but passengers can board and alight from either side.
- Docklands Light RailwayDocklands Light RailwayThe Docklands Light Railway is an automated light metro or light rail system opened on 31 August 1987 to serve the redeveloped Docklands area of London...
(DLR)- Canary Wharf stationCanary Wharf DLR stationCanary Wharf DLR station is a Docklands Light Railway station in London, England. Built into the base of One Canada Square, between two parts of a shopping centre, it serves the Canary Wharf office complex...
- This important and very busy station has six platforms serving three tracks.
- Canary Wharf station
- London UndergroundLondon UndergroundThe London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
- Barking stationBarking stationBarking station is a railway station served by National Rail and London Underground services. It is located in Barking in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in east London, England. The station is in Zone 4, has nine platforms, and is managed by c2c. It has been proposed that ownership of...
- eastbound District lineDistrict LineThe District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground...
only - Stratford stationStratford stationStratford station is a large multilevel railway station in Stratford, east London. The station is served by the National Rail services National Express East Anglia, London Overground and c2c, by London Underground's Central and Jubilee lines, and by the Docklands Light Railway . Stratford is in...
- westbound Central LineCentral LineThe Central line is a London Underground line, coloured red on the tube map. It is a deep-level "tube" line, running east-west across London, and, at , has the greatest total length of track of any line on the Underground. Of the 49 stations served, 20 are below ground...
only - Golders Green station - turnback (reversible) line. The northbound line could be used this way, but platform 1 is not currently available for public use. Similarly at Morden station, a three track termini, platform 1 is out of use, with doors only opening on platform 2. Platforms 3 and 4 do use the solution.
- Both UxbridgeUxbridge tube stationUxbridge is a London Underground station in Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, north-west London. The station is the terminus of the Uxbridge branches of both the Metropolitan Line and the Piccadilly Line. The next station towards London is Hillingdon. The station is 15.5 miles west of...
and CockfostersCockfosters tube stationCockfosters is a London Underground station on the Piccadilly Line for which it is the northern terminus. The station is located on Cockfosters Road approximately 9 miles from central London and serves Cockfosters in the London Borough of Barnet although it is actually located a short distance...
stations are three track termini, where the centre track shares platform islands with each of the outer tracks - White City station and Loughton station have their second and third platforms using the solution.
- Barking station
- National RailNational RailNational Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
- Guildford stationGuildford (Surrey) railway stationGuildford railway station is an important railway junction on the Portsmouth Direct Line serving the town of Guildford in Surrey, England. It is 30.3 miles from London Waterloo....
, Platforms 6 and 7 flank the same track, but trains only serve Platform 6. Platform 7 forms an island with Platform 8, the last. - Norwood Junction station, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Platforms 1 and 2, "Up Local" could be used in this way, but the Office of Rail RegulationOffice of Rail RegulationThe Office of Rail Regulation is a statutory board which is the combined economic and safety regulatory authority for Great Britain's railway network. It was established on 5 July 2004 by the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, replacing the Rail Regulator...
does not allow it.
- Guildford station
- Preserved RailwaysHeritage railwaythumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
- Horsted Keynes stationHorsted Keynes railway stationHorsted Keynes railway station is a railway station in Sussex. It was closed by British Railways Beeching Axe on 28 October 1963 with the cessation of trains from Seaford via Haywards Heath...
on the Bluebell RailwayBluebell RailwayThe Bluebell Railway is a heritage line running for nine miles along the border between East and West Sussex, England. Steam trains are operated between and , with an intermediate station at .The railway is managed and run largely by volunteers...
has platforms 4 and 5 serving the same track
- Horsted Keynes station
North America
CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
- Toronto Subway and RTToronto subway and RTThe Toronto subway and RT is a rapid transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of both underground and elevated railway lines, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission . It was Canada's first completed subway system, with the first line being built under Yonge Street, which opened in...
:- Kennedy StationKennedy (TTC)Kennedy is the terminal subway station of the Bloor-Danforth and Scarborough RT lines of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located at 2455 Eglinton Avenue East, just east of Kennedy Road. The station opened in 1980 in what was then the Borough of Scarborough with the Bloor-Danforth platform, and the...
on the Scarborough RT line - Sheppard-Yonge StationSheppard-Yonge (TTC)Sheppard-Yonge is a station on the Yonge-University-Spadina and Sheppard lines of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the third busiest subway station in the system, after Bloor-Yonge, and St...
on the Sheppard line — Spanish solution only designed, but not in use.
- Kennedy Station
- GO TransitGO TransitGO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
- Union StationUnion Station (Toronto)Union Station is the major inter-city rail station and a major commuter rail hub in Toronto, located on Front Street West and occupying the south side of the block bounded by Bay Street and York Street in the central business district. The station building is owned by the City of Toronto, while the...
on the Lakeshore West line and Lakeshore East line
- Union Station
- TransLink (VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
)- Commercial-Broadway Station on the Expo and Millenium Lines - additional platform for Spanish solution planned in conjunction with Evergreen Line construction
United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- Several stations in the New York City SubwayNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
are designed in the Spanish solution, but the side platforms in many of these stations have been closed:- WoodlawnWoodlawn (IRT Jerome Avenue Line)Woodlawn is the northern terminal of the New York City Subway's IRT Jerome Avenue Line. Located at the intersection of Bainbridge and Jerome Avenue in the Bronx neighborhood of Woodlawn, it is served by the 4 train at all times, providing service to the South Bronx, the East Side of Manhattan and...
- Wakefield – 241st Street
- Pelham Bay ParkPelham Bay Park (IRT Pelham Line)Pelham Bay Park is the northern terminal station of the IRT Pelham Line of the New York City Subway. Located by Pelham Bay Park, at the intersection of the Bruckner Expressway and Westchester Avenue in the Bronx, it is served by the 6 train at all times except weekdays in the peak direction and...
- Van Cortlandt Park – 242nd Street
- 96th Street
- 59th Street – Columbus Circle
- 14th Street – Union Square
- Brooklyn Bridge – City Hall
- Chambers Street
- Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets
- Woodlawn
Other stations, mainly express stations on three-track lines, have a Spanish solution for the middle track, however trains often only open the doors on one side, depending on the direction of travel. Two examples of terminal stations that retain a Spanish solution are the N
N (New York City Subway service)
The N Broadway Local is a service of the New York City Subway. Its route bullet is colored yellow, which appears on station signs and the NYC Subway map, as it represents a service provided on the BMT Broadway Line through Manhattan....
, R
R (New York City Subway service)
The R Broadway Local is a service of the New York City Subway. It is colored yellow on the route sign and on station signs and the NYC Subway map, as it represents a service provided on the BMT Broadway Line in Manhattan.The R service operates at all times...
platforms at South Ferry - Whitehall Street
South Ferry – Whitehall Street (New York City Subway)
South Ferry – Whitehall Street is a New York City Subway station complex in the Manhattan neighborhood of Battery Park, shared by the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line and the BMT Broadway Line...
(although since the elimination of the W
W (New York City Subway service)
The W Broadway Local was a rapid transit service of the New York City Subway's B Division that ran from 2001 to 2010. It was colored yellow on station signs and the subway map, as it ran on the BMT Broadway Line in Manhattan....
train in June of 2010, no regular services terminate at the station), and Flushing – Main Street – the terminal for the 7
7 (New York City Subway service)
The 7 Flushing Local and 7 Flushing Express are rapid transit services of the New York City Subway, providing local and express services along the full length of the IRT Flushing Line...
train.
- PATHPort Authority Trans-HudsonPATH, derived from Port Authority Trans-Hudson, is a rapid transit railroad linking Manhattan, New York City with Newark, Harrison, Hoboken and Jersey City in metropolitan northern New Jersey...
tracks at Newark Penn StationPennsylvania Station (Newark)Pennsylvania Station is a major transportation hub in Newark, New Jersey. Located at Raymond Plaza, between Market Street and Raymond Boulevard, Newark Penn Station is served by the Newark Light Rail, New Jersey Transit commuter rail, Amtrak long distance trains, the PATH rapid transit system, and...
in Newark, New JerseyNewark, New JerseyNewark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
and 33rd Street33rd Street (PATH station)The 33rd Street PATH station, opened on November 10, 1910, is located on Sixth Avenue , between 32nd and 33rd Streets in Manhattan, under Greeley Square and just south of Herald Square....
in ManhattanManhattanManhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
has two of three tracks using the Spanish solution. - Stamford stationStamford (Metro-North station)The Stamford Metro-North Railroad station, officially known as the Stamford Transportation Center serves commuters both leaving and entering Stamford, Connecticut via the New Haven Line. Some Amtrak Northeast Corridor trains also stop at Stamford....
in Stamford, ConnecticutStamford, ConnecticutStamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
has two tracks that utilize the Spanish solution. - Five PointsFive Points (MARTA station)Five Points is a tri-level underground multi-platform metro station of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority rail system. It is the transfer point between the Red and Gold Lines and the Blue and Green Lines and serves as MARTA's transportation hub. It provides access to the Five Points...
, and Lindbergh CenterLindbergh Center (MARTA station)Lindbergh Center station is an at-grade Train station on the Red and Gold lines of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority rail system in the Lindbergh/Morosgo neighborhood in southern Buckhead. This is a partime terminus of the Red Line and the last transfer point for the Red and Gold ...
(on northbound side) stations of the Atlanta MARTAMetropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit AuthorityThe Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority or MARTA is the principal rapid-transit system in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the ninth-largest in the United States. Formed in 1971 as strictly a bus system, MARTA operates a network of bus routes linked to a rapid transit system consisting...
. - The EpcotEpcotEpcot is a theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, located near Orlando, Florida. The park is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely international culture and technological innovation. The second park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1982 and was initially named...
, Transportation and Ticket Center, and Magic KingdomMagic KingdomMagic Kingdom Park is one of four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort located near Orlando, Florida. The first park built at the resort, Magic Kingdom opened Oct. 1, 1971. Designed and built by WED Enterprises, the park's layout and attractions are similar to Disneyland in Anaheim, California...
stations of the Walt Disney World Monorail SystemWalt Disney World Monorail SystemThe Walt Disney World Monorail System is a public transit system in operation at the Walt Disney World Resort.The Walt Disney World Resort currently operates twelve Mark VI monorail trains on three lines of service. The monorail system opened in 1971 with two routes and with Mark IV monorail trains... - Long Island Rail RoadLong Island Rail RoadThe Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
- At JamaicaJamaica (LIRR station)Jamaica is a major hub station of the Long Island Rail Road, and is located in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. It is the largest transit hub on Long Island and is one of the busiest railroad stations in the country with over 200,000 daily passengers...
station, three trains are often timed to arrive at tracks 1–3 and tracks 6–8, allowing passengers to walk through the center train to transfer between trains on the outer tracks. RonkonkomaRonkonkoma (LIRR station)Ronkonkoma is a major railroad station and transportation hub along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road in Ronkonkoma, New York. The station is the eastern terminus of the Ronkonkoma Branch and the western terminus of the Greenport Branch....
also uses a Spanish solution. - White Plains Metro-North stationWhite Plains (Metro-North station)The White Plains Metro-North Railroad station serves the residents of White Plains, New York via the Harlem Line. It is 22.3 miles from Grand Central Terminal, and the average travel time varies between 30 and 44 minutes...
(outbound trains only)
Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
- Metro ChabacanoMetro ChabacanoMetro Chabacano is a station on Lines 2, 8 and 9 of the Mexico City Metro system. It is located in the Cuauhtémoc borough of Mexico City, south of the city centre, on Calzada de Tlalpan.Chabacano means apricot in Mexican Spanish...
on lines 2, 8, and 9 of the Mexico City MetroMexico City MetroThe Mexico City Metro , officially called Sistema de Transporte Colectivo, is a metro system that serves the metropolitan area of Mexico City...
South America
ArgentinaArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
- Constitución and Retiro stations on Line CLine C (Buenos Aires)Line C of the Buenos Aires Metro that runs from Retiro to Constitución terminus, opened on 9 November 1934, and it has a length of 4.3 km.-Stations and connections:-Murals:...
in Buenos AiresBuenos AiresBuenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...