Automatic platform gate

Automatic platform gates (or "half-height platform screen doors" referred by some manufacturer) are chest-height sliding doors at the edge of railway platforms to prevent passengers from falling off the platform edge onto the railway tracks. Like full-height platform screen doors, these platform gates slide open or close simultaneously with the train doors.

As compared to platform screen doors, these half-height platform gates are relatively cheaper to install as they require less metallic framework for support. As such, some railway operators may prefer such an option to improve safety at railway platforms and, at the same time, keeping costs low and non-air-conditioned platforms naturally-ventilated. These gates, however, are less effective, as compared to platform screen doors, in preventing people from jumping onto the tracks.

These gates are firstly in practical use by Hong Kong metro system, MTR on Disneyland Resort Line for their open-air stations design. As the first photo shows they are relatively low for adult height. The reason for the lower height was so that there was to be no visual obstruction to the Mickey Mouse shaped windows.Fact|date=April 2008 The later design by other manufacturers, such as Kaba Gilgen AG, have their gates higher than the one installed on Disneyland Resort Line.

Examples

* Fukuoka City Subway, Japan
* MTR Disneyland Resort Line, Hong Kong
* Paris Métro, France - Line 13
* Sentosa Express, Singapore
* Taipei Rapid Transit System, Taiwan - Nangang Line, Danshui Line
* Beijing subway, China - Line 5

References