A railing system for a telescopic seating arrangement, such as bleacher systems and platform seating systems. The railing system includes discrete lightweight and readily stowable uprights, each having a single closed-loop upper section. Brackets carried by the nose of decks receive a plate affixed to the lower end of each upright. The brackets which support the uprights have a low profile so that the seating system is readily useable if the uprights are not installed. The lightweight and easily stowed uprights of this railing system eliminate the factors which lead to use of a seating system without handrails.