Step device for a rail vehicle

A step device for a rail vehicle, the step device comprising:

• a step platform;
• a housing from which said step platform can be extended and retracted again;
• and
• a regulating unit for controlling an extension and retraction movement of said step platform;
• said step platform including a plurality of step contact segments generating signals transmitted to said regulating unit upon said step contact segments being subjected to pressure;
• said step contact segments being strip-shaped, being disposed beside one another and being parallel to a direction of said extension and retraction movement of said step platform;
• said step contact segments being disposed on said step platform at predefined distances greater than zero relative to one another, causing an object having a predefined minimum contact area with said step platform to subject at least a directly adjacent two of said step contact segments to pressure;
• and
• said step platform configured to generate and transmit a signal representing a relevant object to said regulating unit only when the object on said step platform subjects said two directly adjacent step contact segments to pressure, or
• said regulating unit configured to detect a relevant object only upon signals being transmitted from said two directly adjacent said step contact segments.