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Wednesday 2 Nov 2005

STEP FORWARD FOR WARM AND WELCOMING WAVERLEY

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Scotland’s capital is a step closer to having a dramatically improved railway station after Edinburgh City Council gave the £6.6 million Waverley Steps redevelopment the green light today. Work is scheduled to begin on the major improvements – the first part of the £140 million Phase One redevelopment - early next year. Ron McAulay, Network Rail Director, Scotland, said: “This is great news for Scotland. The redevelopment will bring passengers a station fit for the 21st Century, complete with a warm and inviting entrance to the capital. “Commuters will no longer have to struggle up the windswept Waverley steps with luggage or pushchairs. Easy access will be available to everyone via covered lifts and escalators.” The ultra-modern Waverley Steps entrance was carefully designed to fit with the architecture of the existing station. Glass canopies will be supported by steel ‘trees’, allowing natural light to shine through during the day. At night, the entrance will glow with specialist lighting. A new footbridge will span from the base of the Waverley Steps and connect with the existing walkway through the station. The existing stone arch at the bottom of the Steps will be carefully dismantled and re-erected elsewhere in the station. The remainder of phase one will increase capacity for trains and help reduce delays. Three new platforms will be created and platform five will be reinstated.  The west end station throat and associated signalling and overhead lines will be re-modelled. In addition, a bay platform will be created at Haymarket to deal with service alterations during the improvements. Applications for listed building consent for this work have already been submitted and it is hoped the whole of phase one can be completed by the end of 2007. Ron McAulay added: “Waverley is the biggest station outside London and this redevelopment reflects its importance as both a key commuter hub and a Scottish landmark. I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved in progressing the plans.”