Media centre

Tuesday 14 May 2013

Further access improvements planned for Waverley

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Vehicle access ramps will close temporarily during this summer as part of wider improvements to access arrangements at Edinburgh Waverley Station.

The south ramp, which is used for taxi and drop-off access, will close for three weeks from June 3 to allow for new security measures to be installed.

The security measures, to be implemented in September this year, will see drop-off traffic moved to New Street car park and taxi numbers controlled by a secure entry arrangement.

The new measures will improve security, enhance safe movement through the station and result in a better station environment for passengers and staff.

The ramp access changes are being implemented to coincide with further access changes to improve passenger movement around the station.

By summer, a new lift connecting the Waverley Steps mezzanine level to the station concourse will be operational, while new escalators connecting the Market Street walkway to platform 11 will be installed by September.

Further improvements to the Calton Road entrance will be made by December 2013, with new lifts permitting step free access to the eastern end of the station for the first time.

David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: “Waverley is now easier to access than at any other time in its history and these additional improvements will further enhance access, movement around the station and the station environment.

“Restricting vehicle access to Waverley will improve security, reduce the risk of accidents, enhance the environment for passengers and decrease the level of air pollutants in the station. A certain number of taxis and mobility vehicles will still be able to access the station but, from September, drop-off traffic will be asked to use New Street car park, where we have allowed 30 minutes free parking.”

The latest access improvements follow three years of enhancement work at Waverley. The renewal of the station roof was completed in 2012. Lifts and escalators were also opened at the north side in 2012, allowing access to Princes Street. To the south of the station, lifts now connect the station to Market Street and New Street car park.

During the three week closure in June 2013, taxis servicing the station will pick up and drop off on Market Street.