page_title: Railway platform height
section_title: United States
hierarchical_section_title: Railway platform height / North America / United States
caption_attribution_description: English: Image of gauntlet track on Conrail Shared Assets Operations Lehigh Line, at New Jersey Transit Raritan Valley Line.
context_page_description: Railway platform height is the built height – above top of rail – of passenger platforms at stations. A connected term is train floor height, which refers to the ATR height of the floor of rail vehicles. Worldwide, there are many, frequently incompatible, standards for platform heights and train floor heights. Where raised platforms are in use, train widths must also be compatible, in order to avoid both large gaps between platform and trains and mechanical interference liable to cause equipment damage.
  Differences in platform height can pose a risk for passenger safety. Platform ramps, steps, and platform gap fillers together with hazard warnings such as "mind the gap" are used to reduce risk and facilitate access. Platform height affects the loading gauge, and must conform to the structure gauge physical clearance specifications for the system. Tracks which are shared between freight and passenger service must have platforms which do not obstruct either type of railroad car.
context_section_description: New and substantially renovated stations in the United States must comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires level boarding. Most intercity and commuter rail systems use either 48-inch (1,219 mm) high platforms level with car floors or 8-inch (203 mm) low platforms, while metro and light rail systems use a range of platform heights.
caption: Gauntlet track on Conrail Shared Assets Operation Lehigh Line at New Jersey Transit's Raritan Valley Line Union station. Freight trains run on the outer track so as to clear the platform
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