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Amtrak Guidelines on Platform Design

These Amtrak Guidelines on Platform Design are based on two foundations: first and fundamentally, the statutory provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") and the current regulations promulgated under the ADA; second, to the extent consistent with that statutory and regulatory scheme, the best engineering practices of track and platform design at railroad stations. These Amtrak Guidelines are intended to provide assistance to entities inquiring about design parameters for platforms at Amtrak-served stations. These guidelines will ultimately be included in Amtrak’s station manual: Station Program & Planning—Standards and Guidelines.

A. Instructions to Entities Seeking Advice on the Design of Amtrak Platforms

  • Questions concerning these Guidelines should be addressed to John Bennett, Assistant Vice President for Policy, Standards, and Business Integration and Chief of Amtrak’s Stations/ Program Development team. He may be reached at (202) 906-2114 or at bennetjo@amtrak.com.
  • Technical details on design should be addressed to Joe Rago, Senior Director Stations and Facilities Engineering Structures, at (215) 349-2120 or at ragoj@amtrak.com.
  • All platform designs should be in compliance with the ADA statutory and regulatory requirements referenced in Section B below.
  • All new platforms served by Amtrak along the Northeast Corridor (and select others as designated by Amtrak) should be constructed at a height of 48” above top of rail (ATR), offset by 5’ 7” from center line of track on tangent sections.
  • All new platforms served by Amtrak along other right-of-way should be constructed at a height of 8” ATR, offset by 5’1” from center line of track on tangent sections.
  • Questions regarding the appropriate platform heights for particular stations should be addressed to Amtrak (John Bennett) for resolution.
  • Platform edges adjacent to track bordering a drop-off must have a detectable warning consistent with ADA requirements. Such detectable warnings shall contrast visually with adjacent surfaces, be 24 inches (610 mm) wide, and run the full length of the public use areas of the platform.
  • Design plans should be coordinated with Amtrak and should anticipate the use of one or more of the following assistive boarding devices as provided for in the ADA regulations:
    • Car-borne or platform-mounted wheelchair lifts;
    • Ramps or bridge plates; or
    • Mini-high platforms. (Note, the placement of the mini-high platforms should not have the effect of channeling passengers into a narrow space between the face of the higher-level platform and the edge of the lower platform, since this may place passengers uncomfortably close to moving trains.)
  • For platforms served by Amtrak that are located along a host railroad, the design standards of that host railroad should normally be followed. Any inconsistencies with Amtrak’s standards should be brought to the attention of Amtrak and will be reconciled by Amtrak, working with the host railroad.
  • With respect to platform length, Amtrak generally supports full train length platform design, but will consider options based on individual conditions. Amtrak will make the final determination on platform length after consultation with stakeholders.
  • Amtrak will coordinate the review of plans, when necessary, with the FRA or other DOT agency in accordance with the provisions of the Amtrak-FRA grant agreement and will inform the entity designing the platform of the views of any agency consulted.
  • Amtrak Engineering will review the plans and specifications for new or renovated platforms to verify compliance with Amtrak’s technical standards, which standards are consistent with the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) standards.
  • Plans and specifications should be forwarded to Amtrak’s Engineering Department (Mark Wurpel, Sr. Director, Program Development and Planning, Engineering 215-349-1127) wurpelm@amtrak.com for distribution among engineering disciplines for review and approval.

B. The Americans with Disabilities Act Statute and Regulations

Entities should familiarize themselves with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) statutory requirements found at 42 USC § 12162(e) and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s regulations found at 49 CFR Parts 37 and 38. All Amtrak-served stations within the United States (other than flag stops) must be made accessible to passengers with disabilities by July 26, 2010.

With respect to platform requirements, the ADA and implementing regulations generally provide as follows:

  • Platforms must be “readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs.”
  • At stations with raised platforms, there may be a gap of no more than 3” horizontal and 5/8” vertical between platform edge and entrance to the rail car (recognizing, however, that it is very unlikely that commuter and intercity rail operators can meet this requirement).
  • Where it is not operationally or structurally feasible to meet such gap requirements, assistive boarding devices (e.g., ramps or bridge plates, car-borne or platform-mounted lifts, mini-high platforms) are permissible means to accommodate passengers with disabilities. Regulatory approval is not required.
  • Platform length is not mandated by the ADA.
  • Low level platforms must be 8” (205 mm) minimum ATR, although lower levels are permissible where vehicles are boarded from sidewalks or at street level.

C. Related Information

As a matter of interest, two separate appendices are attached:

  • A summary of the key provisions from Amtrak’s FRA Grant related to platforms (Appendix A).
  • A summary of the key provisions from DOT’s Guidance on Full-Length, Level-Boarding Platforms in New Commuter and Intercity Rail Stations and from DOT’s proposed new regulations, Transportation for Individuals with Disabilities (Appendix B).

Appendix A: Amtrak’s FRA Grant Requirements

Amtrak’s FY 2008 FRA grant agreement provides that:

  • Where Amtrak is the “responsible party” under the ADA, Amtrak must provide the FRA, for its review and comment, copies of relevant plans and specifications for those projects which do not include full platform length level boarding.
  • Where Amtrak is not the “responsible party” under the ADA, but has been asked to review plans for a project that does not provide for full platform length level boarding, Amtrak must advise the FRA of Amtrak’s review of such plans prior to providing final comments to the requesting entity.
  • Where Amtrak is the “responsible party” under the ADA, Amtrak shall not enter into any agreement with an entity for the purchase, lease or development of any new station or new platform not in compliance with the statutory and regulatory accessibility requirements of the ADA.

Appendix B: DOT Guidance and Proposed New Regulations on Platforms

In September 2005, DOT issued a document entitled “Guidance on Full-Length, Level-Boarding Platforms in New Commuter and Intercity Rail Stations” and, in February 2006, proposed new rules that differ significantly from the current ADA platform regulations. The proposed regulations are found at Docket OST-2006-23985, Transportation for Individuals with Disabilities, 71 Fed. Reg. 9761 (Feb. 26, 2006).

Guidance and/or proposed regulations generally provide as follows:

  • The norm for new stations is a platform running the full length of the passenger boarding area of the station that permits level boarding to all accessible cars of trains stopping at the station.
  • The effect of the proposed regulations would be to require the raising of platforms to a given height (15” ATR in the West; 48” ATR in the East).
  • If that approach is infeasible, then car-borne or station-based lifts serving each accessible car is a secondary solution.
  • Only if it is operationally or structurally infeasible to meet the level boarding requirements may assistive devices such as lifts or mini-high platforms be used. Case by case regulatory agency review and approval is required.
  • Where meeting the 3” and 5/8” gap requirements is infeasible, the preferred option is a high-level platform with a short bridge plate to all accessible cars but horizontal gaps are limited to no greater than 10” on tangent track and 13” on curves. A vertical gap must be small enough that it can be traversed by a bridge plate with a slope of not more than 1:8.
  • Operators should construct bypass/gauntlet tracks or employ other solutions where necessary to accommodate freight trains adjacent to high-level platforms, unless doing so is technically or operationally infeasible.
  • Proposed regulations could be applied to all existing intercity rail stations or only to new stations.

Amtrak has made DOT aware of its objections to the Guidance and the proposed rules, which Amtrak believes are inconsistent with the ADA and the current implementing regulations. In response to Amtrak’s expression of concern with how the Guidance has been applied by FRA and FTA, in January 2008, DOT informed Amtrak that the Guidance is “informational in nature, explaining to interested parties and the public how the Department interprets its existing statutory and regulatory authorities” and does not create “independent, legally binding requirements.”