A gas turbine blade shroud includes a platform and one or more fins extending toward a stator and side rails that extend radially toward the stator and along the edge of the platform. The increased wall thickness in the side regions of the blade shroud effects an increase in stiffness and a decrease in deformation during turbine operation. Due to a localised increase in wall thickness the mass of the blade shroud can be minimized such that mechanical loading is not significantly increased. The side rails can improve a lining up of adjacent blades and decrease a probability of hot gas leakage into the cavity between blade shroud and stator. The side rails have profile shapes that can be optimised in view of stiffness and mechanical loading and are suitable for casting. The blade shroud with side rails can have an improved life time.