High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Railway platforms at railway stations on double lines can be side platforms or island platforms. With side platforms, track centres remain the same, and no space is lost for slewing the track to wider centres, as would be needed for an island platform. Side platforms usually have access to neighbouring streets. While most stations on double-track routes have two side platforms on opposite sides of the track, some (notably Cambridge in the U.K.) have a single side platform, split into two by a scissors crossing mid-way along its length. Platforms can also be staggered.