I am completely thrown by this ‘bizarre’ detail on train platforms around Australia: ‘It’s wrong on every level’

By William On May 24, 2024

Australians have railed about the ‘leaning rails’ popping up at train stations and bus stops in place of traditional seating options.

Some have furiously claimed that the unusual rails have replaced seating in most urban areas to deter ‘homeless’ people from camping on platforms.

However, both NSW Transport and Queensland Rail told FEMAIL the bars are designed as an ‘alternative rest option’ where ‘there is no space for traditional seating’.

Others slammed the tracks because they were ‘utterly useless’ for the elderly and disabled, who are ‘the main people using seats at stations’.

Singer Justin Standley joked about the “ridiculous” episodes at a Brisbane train station in a video that has since gone viral.

Singer Justin Standley joked about the ‘ridiculous’ episodes at a Brisbane train station in a video that has since gone viral

‘They are funny chairs, how should you sit on them?’ he chirped in the video before awkwardly trying them on.

Furious viewers claimed the chairs discriminated against homeless people and people with disabilities.

‘We have these at bus stops in England. It’s like, homeless people can’t feel comfortable,” one woman said.

Others seemed to agree with her position.

‘Disrespectful to the elderly and disabled who can still walk, but need rest and yet are unable to use their chair in this way. Also disrespectful to the homeless. So cruel,” someone wrote about the chair in the video.

‘What a terrible, nasty, cruel thing to do. Imagine the thought that went into designing something so that the homeless couldn’t find even a little bit of comfort. Not to mention regular travellers,” said another.

Mr. Standley seemed excited about the success of his video and the conversation it started about fairness.

“I think it’s cruel that they installed such a ridiculous structure if it deprives someone of their rights,” he said.

But he was willing to take other opinions into account.

Mr. Standley seemed excited about the success of his video and the conversation it started about honesty

‘There’s such a debate now about what they are because my kids are adamant that they are school bags and backpacks, but I’m unsure because you can’t leave bags unattended and there are only two small racks; barely enough for a flock of schoolchildren,” he said.

Some people claimed that the bars are for ‘people to lean on’ and were never intended to replace chairs.

‘There is not enough space between the wall and the train tracks to safely fit normal seating in these areas, as this requires passengers to walk too close to the edge of the platform. These are just rest rails,” one man said.

“Get off your high horse – it’s about space on the platform not hostility,” snapped another.

Others admitted that the bars and chairs were probably all examples of “anti-homeless” architecture, but that they are glad they are there.

‘I am sorry that the homeless are in this position in life… but the design of a rest area in or around a train depot is not the place to consider where the homeless will stop and stay. They have plenty of other places to rest or sleep,” they said.

The conversation seemed to spill over to Reddit, where people revealed that their sofas had also had ‘handrails’ installed on them to prevent people from lying down

‘Who do I have to thank, I hate it when homeless people are on my platform. They scare me,” one woman said.

The conversation seemed to spill over to Reddit, where people revealed that their sofas had ‘handrails’ installed to prevent people from lying down.

“It makes me sad to think there was a room full of people discussing this,” one person said.

“They are in cities all over the world. “It’s horrible to think that there are hundreds of rooms full of people having the same discussion and coming to the same conclusion,” said another.

Some people said they don’t like it when homeless people settle on platforms or in public and welcome the architecture

People claimed they’re “not even good for able-bodied people.”

“As a small-bodied human, these are already horrible because I’m too small for some to even use them.”

‘They were a nightmare when I was pregnant; people offered them and I waved at them not to bother.

Leaning rails in NSW and Queensland

NSW:

There have been handrails on platforms in Sydney since 2013, many of which are installed in narrow sections on platforms.

“At particularly busy stations, rest rails are used to improve passenger flow and reduce congestion by freeing up more space on platforms,” a spokesperson said.

“Rest rails provide an alternative seating option for our passengers.”

The sofas are fitted with armrests to facilitate access and mobility for elderly and disabled customers.

Queensland:

Neil Backer, head of South East Queensland at Queensland Rail, said: “At Queensland Rail we are committed to providing our customers with modern and accessible stations that meet their needs.”

“All of our stations have a variety of seating options, including accessible seating and seating with backrests and armrests.

Lean rails offer passengers a convenient waiting option by allowing passengers to sit or lean when waiting for a short period of time.

‘Lean rails are often installed where other seating options would not be suitable due to space.

“The number of seats and lean rails at Queensland train stations is determined based on the expected wait times and patronage levels for the station,” he said.