From which side does the subway train arrive at the station?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Over the years I have used the subway in different cities located in various countries. This past May something caught my attention. While visiting Lisbon, Portugal, I was surprised when the subway train arrived at the station from the right side. Thinking back I could only recall places where the subway train arrives from the left side.
The total number of distinct subway lines I have used is statistically insignificant compared to the number available around the world. Since DIYAudio.com has members from so many different places, maybe you guys can help satisfy my curiosity. Based on your personal experience in the last 5 years, from which side does the subway train arrive at the station? Please report city, country and side.

Lisbon, Portugal - Right
 
Same with Vancouver. In some cases they had to adapt the stations to the existing infrastructure so if you board from between the two tracks it comes at you from the right and if you are boarding from outside the tracks, it's from the left. I think that's pretty standard. Unless you're in the UK where they drive on the wrong side of the road, I assume it's the opposite.

😀
 
Interesting. As I initially disclosed, my experience is limited but it has always been consistent. As you go from the street level down to the subway train platform, at some point you have to decide in which direction you will travel. Once I was on the platform facing the tracks, the train always arrived from the same direction. Other recent personal examples:

Frankfurt, Germany – Left
Munich, Germany - Left
Berlin, Germany - Left
Paris, France – Left
Shanghai, China – Left
Beijing, China - Left
 
Last edited:
maybe the left side is a holdover result of Britain building the earliest train lines on the Continent. perhaps later it was easiest to keep it that way.
AFAIK in So California it follows all on the right side , The Coaster and new light rail using for the most part existing old track routes. Im sure there maybe one or two exceptions in built up urban areas.
 
Same with Vancouver. In some cases they had to adapt the stations to the existing infrastructure so if you board from between the two tracks it comes at you from the right and if you are boarding from outside the tracks, it's from the left. I think that's pretty standard. Unless you're in the UK where they drive on the wrong side of the road, I assume it's the opposite.

😀

Same here some new stations you come down between the tracks and it's right in that case.
 
Boston area three platform stations from either left or right depending on the platform you are on. Center platform stations from the right, outside platform stations from the left.

On two track lines the trains normally run in the direction consistent with the side of the road we drive on.
 
Interesting. As I initially disclosed, my experience is limited but it has always been consistent. As you go from the street level down to the subway train platform, at some point you have to decide in which direction you will travel. Once I was on the platform facing the tracks, the train always arrived from the same direction. Other recent personal examples:

Frankfurt, Germany – Left
Munich, Germany - Left
Berlin, Germany - Left
Paris, France – Left
Shanghai, China – Left
Beijing, China - Left

In Berlin it depends on if the platform is central or the rails.
The train always arrives from the same direction but you would board it from the other side hence when you face the rails it will either arrive from your left (rails central) or your right (platform central).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.