A platform ticket is a type of rail ticket issued by some railway systems that allows the bearer to access the platforms of a railway station but not to board and use any train services. Platform tickets emerged in the 19th century when passenger coaches had no internal corridor, and conductors had to move along the outside of the train while it was in motion to inspect tickets. To avoid accidents, railway operators began to check the tickets on the platform before passengers boarded the train. Platform tickets are still in use in some countries, including India, where a platform ticket for any railway station costs not more than ₹10 and is valid for not more than two hours. Tickets are issued from either ticketing counters and ATVMs on the railway station, or from Indian Railways UTS app. If a passenger is caught by railway ticket checking staff at any platform without a platform ticket or traveling ticket, the passenger will be charged double the fare of the last train that arrived at/departed from that platform.

It is worth noting that the term "platform ticket" can also refer to a ticket authorizing a person not traveling to go on the restricted platform at which trains arrive and depart. However, this usage is not related to railway systems and is not the focus of this answer.