Bay platform

Bay platform is a railway-related term commonly used in the UK and Australia to describe a dead-end platform at a railway station which has through lines.^[1] It is normal for bay platforms to be shorter than their associated through platforms.

Overview

Bay Platform at Nottingham station

Bay and island platforms are so named because they resemble the geographic features of the same name.

Examples of station with bay platforms include Nottingham railway station (pictured), which has a bay platform inset into one of its platform islands; and the San Francisco International Airport BART Station which has three bay platforms, two of which are in use.

Trains which use a bay platform have to reverse direction and depart in the direction from which they arrived.

Dock platforms are similar to bay platforms, but are generally smaller, and used to unload freight.

^ Mortimer, Simon (2007). Baywatch (4^th edition). Kentrail Enthusiasts Group.

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Rail sidings	Balloon loop • Headshunt • Rail yard • Classification yard
Junctions	Flying junction • Level junction • Double junction • Facing and trailing • Grand union • Wye • Railroad switch
Stations	Side platform • Island platform • Bay platform • Terminal station • Balloon loop • Spanish solution • Cross-platform interchange
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