Platform gap filler

Platform gap fillers are movable platform edge extensions at subway or railway stations where the curvature of the platform creates a significant gap between the platform and subway or train car door.

"Gap filler" redirects here. For the Space Shuttle thermal protection system, see Gap fillers. For the car accessory, see Drop Stop.
Platform gap fillers being trialled at Platform 3 of Lo Wu station in Hong Kong in 2009.
Carleton station on the Trillium Line is the only station with two platforms. Note gap fillers at solid yellow markings.

Hong Kong

Platform gap fillers were trialled on the platforms of Lo Wu station on the East Rail line in 2009 due to the difficulty of installing platform screen doors on the curved nature of the platforms. They were planned to be installed at other stations along the line along with signal upgrades. However, during the trial period, MTR found that the time taken for the gap filler to fully extend took 15-20 seconds and so greatly increased dwell times of trains. It was decided unsuitable for service. After the trial period ended in October 2009, the platform gap fillers were not used until it was finally removed during a platform-strengthening maintenance operation. Plans to install it on other stations of the East Rail line were also abandoned.

Japan

Some Japanese railway stations have platform gap fillers, which are known as movable steps (可動ステップ, kadō steppu).[1] Over 200 fillers are used in the Tokyo subway.[2]

London Underground

With the introduction of the NTfL, Transport for London are hoping to introduce platform gap fillers on the Bakerloo, Central & Piccadilly lines (of which 14 platforms have been identified for installation) at curved platforms such as Bank, where the gap between the train and the platform can exceed 1 foot (30.5 cm).[3]

New York City Subway
South Ferry station with gap fillers extended out to a 1 train, as reopened on April 4, 2013.
The downtown express track at 14th Street – Union Square. A retracted gap filler can be seen at the bottom of the image along the platform edge, with additional gap fillers visible in the distance.

The Interborough Rapid Transit Company's first cars were built with only two doors on each side, at the extreme ends of the car, lining up with the curved platforms so as not to leave a wide gap between the train and the platform. When the IRT modified existing cars and ordered new cars with a middle door, gap fillers were needed because the middle door was not near the platform. After the City of New York bought the IRT in 1940, new car designs (starting with the R12) had the end doors away from the extreme ends of the car body, which also required the use of gap fillers at certain stations.

Stations equipped

IRT stations with gap fillers are:

  • South Ferry, outer loop.[4] The station closed on March 16, 2009 and was replaced by a new station which does not require gap fillers. After the latter station was damaged by flooding during Hurricane Sandy, the loop station was reopened as a temporary terminus on April 4, 2013. The 2009-era station reopened on June 27, 2017.
  • Brooklyn Bridge – City Hall (IRT Lexington Avenue Line) originally had gap fillers on the express platforms. These were deactivated when the station was extended northward. These gap fillers are still in place and can be seen just south of the current platforms.[5]
  • 14th Street – Union Square (IRT Lexington Avenue Line) has gap fillers on both tracks on the downtown platform.[6] There may have been gap fillers on the uptown express platform. A new design of gap filler was installed in 2004 to provide maintenance access from the platform rather than requiring crews to stand at track level.
  • Times Square (IRT 42nd Street Shuttle) had gap fillers on Shuttle tracks 1 and 3. They were mounted under the platform rather than on it, so they were not ADA accessible.[7] They were removed in 2021 when the station was rebuilt.

Singapore

Platform gap fillers are used in the Mass Rapid Transit system of Singapore, namely the North South MRT line and the East West MRT line. Platform gap fillers are also planned for installation on trains on the North East MRT line and the Circle MRT line as well, because newer trains can be equipped with gap fillers.[8]

Germany

Many regional trains in Germany come with platform gap fillers, such as the Bombardier Talent 2.[9] On subway networks, they have also become more common, as evidenced by the Nuremberg U-Bahn whose 1970s first generation VAG Class DT1 do not have them but whose VAG Class DT3 of the 2000s and 2010s and VAG Class G1 of the 2020s come equipped with automatic gap fillers.[10]

See also

References
  1. Gorrdenker, Alice (17 January 2012). "Platform doors". Japan Times. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  2. Gordenker, Alice (2012-01-17). "Platform doors". The Japan Times Online. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2016-09-07.
  3. "New Tube for London Feasibility Report" (PDF). October 2014. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  4. "IRT West Side Line: South Ferry". 15 March 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  5. "IRT East Side Line: Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall". 2 January 2010. Archived from the original on 15 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  6. "IRT East Side Line: 14th Street/Union Square". 24 June 2005. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  7. "IRT Times Square-Grand Central Shuttle: Times Square". 28 June 2005. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  8. "'Gap fillers' on new trains to reduce platform gap". TODAYonline. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 2016-09-07.
  9. "Elektrotriebwagen BR 442 (Talent 2)".
  10. "Digital und komfortabel: Das können Nürnbergs neue U-Bahn-Züge".
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