Possible plans for Edinburgh Waverley station?

[iain-j]

Any ideas why?

The reason I asked the question in the first place was as far as my knowledge goes, was that when the South tunnel was being electrified some structural weaknesses were found and the tunnel was lined on the inside to strengthen it which meant it couldn't take double track any more. With it being singled it probably wasn't a problem but redoubling it would be a problem as a new tunnel would be needed.
As I said I never had a definitive answer to this and this is the best of my understanding, hopefully somebody on here who knows the details to a better degree can help.

 

[Altnabreac]

The reason I asked the question in the first place was as far as my knowledge goes, was that when the South tunnel was being electrified some structural weaknesses were found and the tunnel was lined on the inside to strengthen it which meant it couldn't take double track any more. With it being singled it probably wasn't a problem but redoubling it would be a problem as a new tunnel would be needed.
As I said I never had a definitive answer to this and this is the best of my understanding, hopefully somebody on here who knows the details to a better degree can help.

That is broadly what I was told. It has been very heavily reinforced and to get 2 track clearance would need reboring to such an extent that would probably not actually be possible while maintaining the structural integrity of the hill.

If you really needed 2 tracks here it might actually involve a Penmanshiel type solution which would be hugely controversial from a planning / world heritage viewpoint.

Better to redouble the northern tunnel and hope you don't need to do both.

 

[och aye]

The pub is coming along. Going to open sometime this month:

 

[och aye]

The pub is opening next week. They've made a North British Railway mosaic on the floor in a nod to the stations historic past:

http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...s-a-listed-pub-at-waverley-entrance-1-4149094

 

[Harbornite]

The pub is opening next week. They've made a North British Railway mosaic on the floor in a nod to the stations historic past:

That's a nice touch.

 

[AngusH]

I happened to walk past today and they've removed the wooden boards.

Some of the outside has steam-era pictures of the station, which seems nice. Plus the company shield as posted before. Advertising 14th June opening on the door.

Presumably once the decor is past, it'll be like any other Wetherspoons, but it could be convenient if I'm waiting for a while in the station.

 

[47271]

I'm not holding my breath on it being the location of choice when I'm waiting for an evening train at Waverley.

I should know this already, but what was the original purpose of this building? And don't anyone say Jimmy Chung's...

 

[AngusH]

I think it was built as a parcels office.

 

[reb0118]

I think it was built as a parcels office.

It ended it's railway life as a parcels office IIRC.

I believe it was originally the booking office for one of the constituent stations that amalgamated to form the Waverley.

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[Blindtraveler]

That is my understanding also. I personally think its a bit sad that a really rather uninteresting and IMO over rated pubco is using it when with a bit of thought it could have somehow been linked back into the main boddy of the station and put to use as a wating room or retail space.

I assume now that with silly season i.e. Festival upon us in a month the work to build P5 and 6 is on hold till Autumn now?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
TBH it was a handy assette as a chinese restaurant

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's nowhere near the main body of the station, it's easily 100 yards away up a slope.


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[sprinterguy]

TBH it was a handy assette as a chinese restaurant

Personally, it'll be of much greater utility to me and my cohorts as a Wetherspoons; as a Chinese restaurant it was irrelevant to us. As noted above, many of Wetherspoons renovations often feature a nod to the buildings' heritage, which is a nice touch. We're looking forward to having a source of decent, cheap beer and reasonably priced food rapidly served so handy for the station when changing trains.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I wouldnt bank on it being cheep given its location but hope for your sake it is

 

[Bletchleyite]

Spoons is near always cheaper than other pubs in the same sort of location.

FWIW, there is at least one other Chinese restaurant nearby (off Princes St).

 

[asylumxl]

Spoons is near always cheaper than other pubs in the same sort of location.

FWIW, there is at least one other Chinese restaurant nearby (off Princes St).

As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Particularly where food is concerned

 

[Blindtraveler]

As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Particularly where food is concerned

Agreed. Iv no doubt itl be well used but dont think itl be as cheep as other JDW establishments. Still, if it can beat the SSP run Nor Loch on the station itl be a good thing for choice and will have an interesting effect on other near by watering establishments

 

[mark-h]

It's nowhere near the main body of the station, it's easily 100 yards away up a slope.

I suspect that its main users will be people waiting for a train so it will be a gentle downhill walk for them. Only connecting passengers would have to climb the ramp to visit (arriving passengers would not need to stay close to the station).

TBH it was a handy assette as a chinese restaurant

Jimmy Chung's was an "eat all your body can handle" Chinese buffet- the food tended to be poor quality, greasy and had spent too long sitting under the heat lamps. I doubt many of its customers went on to travel by train after their meal (being uncomfortably boated on a train with limited toilet facilities does not seem my idea of fun!).

I think a Wetherspoons would be better for most passengers who want a quick drink/snack/meal before getting their train.

 

[AndrewE]

It's nowhere near the main body of the station, it's easily 100 yards away up a slope.


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If you can't be a*sed to walk 100 yards for reasonably priced beer and reliable (if basic) food then you will starve or be bled dry in lots of places! Including such hubs of the universe as Crewe, but maybe you were joking...

 

[47271]

If you can't be a*sed to walk 100 yards for reasonably priced beer and reliable (if basic) food then you will starve or be bled dry in lots of places! Including such hubs of the universe as Crewe, but maybe you were joking...

I quite agree on walking 100yds for a pint, but I think the point was made in relation to my question on the original purpose of the building, and that it was unlikely to have been a ticket office 100 yds from the main station area, not in relation to Wetherspoons.

Waverley developed in many odd directions and ways in its early days so it's possible that it could have been the ticket office prior to the existing central area, others may be able to clarify this?

 

[AndrewE]

I quite agree on walking 100yds for a pint, but I think the point was made in relation to my question on the original purpose of the building, and that it was unlikely to have been a ticket office 100 yds from the main station area, not in relation to Wetherspoons.

Waverley developed in many odd directions and ways in its early days so it's possible that it could have been the ticket office prior to the existing central area, others may be able to clarify this?

Sorry, I misread that.
SWMBO read my email and found this before I had any free time:
http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB30270, which says

"The former station PARCELS OFFICE is located at street level at Waverley Bridge and was erected 1898-1900. It is a single-storey 3 by 7 bay flat-roofed classically detailed building with round-headed openings between paired pilasters. Its interior was converted to restaurant use around 1988.

Flanking the parcels office are 2 mirror image classically detailed carriageway ramps including lamp standards from Waverley Bridge to platform level, with footpaths; they are both constructed in 2 sections, with covered ends in station built of solid, grooved ashlar retaining walls with stepped balustrading."

...Which doesn't say it had not had a different earlier use, of course.
A parcels office on the public road seems sensible, leaving railway staff to do the distribution to each train as needed.
and given that there is no railway parcels service any more I would have though that a better, more accurate and less confusing name for the pub might have been "The [Old?] Parcels Office."

 

[Chrism20]

Agreed. Iv no doubt itl be well used but dont think itl be as cheep as other JDW establishments. Still, if it can beat the SSP run Nor Loch on the station itl be a good thing for choice and will have an interesting effect on other near by watering establishments

According to a JDW manager I know it will be in the same pricing tier as the other City Centre pubs on George Street and the Omni

 

[Blindtraveler]

Interesting. Will be watching this one

 

[och aye]

T
I assume now that with silly season i.e. Festival upon us in a month the work to build P5 and 6 is on hold till Autumn now?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
TBH it was a handy assette as a chinese restaurant

That's right. They are going to be starting in September.

 

[ian1944]

According to a JDW manager I know it will be in the same pricing tier as the other City Centre pubs on George Street and the Omni

I can speak only for sit-in filter coffee, currently £1.10 (or less, but that may have been a special offer) at everywhere outside Edinburgh I've been, £1.29 at the existing three JDW in the city, but £1.99 (!!!) here. As my visit yesterday was after 2, there weren't even the free refills to dilute the price. Nor was I given one hot and fresh from the machine, but handed an empty cup and invited to fill it at the usual self-service tank which was still at the end of the bar - this being about 2.45, it was neither fresh nor hot. I was not impressed and don't intend returning.

 

[AngusH]

I think I too read that web page on the building. But I happened to come across this photo:

https://www.capitalcollections.org.uk/index.php?a=ViewItem&i=18450&WINID=1466099174314#.V2Ll6FeMCi4

Which under the "about this photo" section states:

Original caption: The waverley bridge showing Princes Street. The building on the right of the bridge used to be the booking hall of Waverley Station and is now the parcels office. It still stands (1943).

Does anyone know more?

 

[Blindtraveler]

Appologies for being sinical but Ian 1944s comments above come as no shock. Crap service and inflated prices is what I was expecting here and it would seam thats just what is being offered.

For only a pound or so more interchanging pax could have freshly made from several outlets that dont involve a puff up the ramp.

 

[Chrism20]

I can speak only for sit-in filter coffee, currently £1.10 (or less, but that may have been a special offer) at everywhere outside Edinburgh I've been, £1.29 at the existing three JDW in the city, but £1.99 (!!!) here. As my visit yesterday was after 2, there weren't even the free refills to dilute the price. Nor was I given one hot and fresh from the machine, but handed an empty cup and invited to fill it at the usual self-service tank which was still at the end of the bar - this being about 2.45, it was neither fresh nor hot. I was not impressed and don't intend returning.

I'll check with them again, but yeah £1.99 is definitely more than the Omni. Also isn't that horrible tank supposed to be away by that time of time of day?

 

[sheff1]

We're looking forward to having a source of decent, cheap beer and reasonably priced food rapidly served

The only time I have ever been "rapidly served" in a station Wetherspoons was at Cannon St on a Bank Holiday lunchtime when there were more staff than customers. I will pop my head in next time I am at Waverley, but rather suspect the chances of rapid service are considerably less than the likelihood that I will need to leave to catch my train before I have been served at all.

 

[och aye]

A couple of folks I know went in there for a couple of drinks and said it was fine, nothing out of the ordinary.

I guess the next major development will be new platforms. It's going to be strange, once completed, not seeing the old car park and taxi rank there any more.

 

[och aye]

A local MSP has launched a petition for the ScotRail Alliance to put a taxi rank back inside the station:

https://www.change.org/p/scotrail-a...edium=copylink&recuruit_context=copylink_long

Once the new platforms 5 & 6 are built, where else could (can!) they put it?:?