A vertical raising safety rail. The safety rail includes lower linkage arm assemblies that are connected to a base and to a center rail assembly and configured to raise or lower the center rail assembly relative to the base when a rotational force is applied to the drive shaft. The safety rail also includes upper linkage arm assemblies that are connected to the center rail assembly and to a top rail. The upper linkage arm assemblies are connected to corresponding lower linkage assemblies and are configured to move the top rail relative to the center rail assembly. When the top rail is raised, one or more safety curtains are unfurled from a take-up roller inside the top rail to provide a safety curtain in the vertical plane of the safety rail.