Non-standard platform heights for Crossrail 2

Crossrail 2 will have non-standard platform heights in the central section, in order to offer level boarding. But level boarding will not be possible outside of the tunnels.

Although the final design of the trains is still “a long way off”, RAIL understands that Transport for London and Network Rail are basing the platform heights on offering level boarding to the equivalent of the Class 345 units that will be used on the Elizabeth Line (Crossrail).

“We are aware there are different platform heights [across the route] and we are serving different stations on Network Rail. We haven’t said it is stepfree from street to train all the way along the route, but we’re ensuring it will be step-free from street to platform, and in the core section we will be making it so it will be step-free to the train,” said Michèle Dix, Managing Director of Crossrail 2.

Chris Curtis, head of Crossrail 2 at Network Rail, told RAIL: “It will be level boarding in the core in the underground stations, whereas on the national network it will be as you are now with the existing platforms, unless we have to rebuild them for any other reason. Of course, most of the national network will receive non-Crossrail 2 trains as well.”

Curtis explained that part of the reason why the platforms are being built to the floor height of the train is to offer speedy boarding in the tunnelled section, but he did concede it may be possible for train manufacturers to build trains with lower floors than present in order to offer level boarding in the future.

“Over time, train floors have dropped in height, and it is conceivable that train floors will get down to 915mm [the same as the national standard for platform heights]. From a personal point of view, platform heights will homogenise over time. Things are a lot better than they were 50 years ago.”

It is possible to build trains with floor heights that match the height of platforms, in order to provide step-free access without the need to use ramps. Both the new Merseyrail trains and the new Stadler Greater Anglia bi-mode units will offer level boarding at the majority of National Rail stations when they are introduced within the next couple of years, as the floor heights are set at 915mm.

Away from platform heights, Dix stated that construction of Crossrail 2 won’t just help London, stating it will offer improved connectivity across the country.

“The impact of Crossrail 2 is way beyond London, in terms of benefits across the network,” she said.“If all connections to stations that are being proposed are made, it will connect 800 stations within the UK with one interchange.”