New platforms at Edinburgh Waverley

[clc]

The concourse has a shallow ramp across its entire width down to Gordon Street and the taxis. There are steps down to Union and Hope Streets but these aren't the main way of entering the station. There used to be an internal car park but as part of the GARL/Paisley Corridor improvements this was converted back into two platforms for the extra services.

No steps to the Hope St entrance next to Central Hotel.

 

[92002]

From that list, the only station I regularly use is London Victoria. It does have a taxi rank at concourse/platform level - leave by the small exit at Platform 1, as if heading to the Hilton Doubletree and turn left.

I think the road outside Glasgow Central is also at concourse level, and a quick play around on Google Earth seems to confirm this, but I've not been there for years so can't be sure.

The taxi rank at Glasgow Central is now out of the station and across the road from the street level entrance in Gordon Street. No vehicles are allowed on the station.

 

[Railsigns]

[Glasgow Central] There used to be an internal car park but as part of the GARL/Paisley Corridor improvements this was converted back into two platforms for the extra services.

There had never previously been any platforms there.

 

[Altnabreac]

So I was at Waverley today and thought I'd have a look about.

Platform 13: Definitely can't be extended even for 6 car trains without demolishing the south ramp.

Platform 14: Might need the final 30m or so before the current buffer stops slewed slightly to the south but otherwise looks possible to extend to 8 car length without changes to the ramp. Will need demolition of nearly all the buildings around platforms 11 and 12 including the sleeper lounge.

Platforms 5/6: extending the old motorail platforms to cater for full length 91s / IEPs looks very possible, there is plenty of space for 2 tracks where the old taxi rank was and this is now a very quiet, underused area of the station. Probably makes sense to run right up to the east side of the main pedestrian walkway.

Linking platform 6 to platform 12: This would be very tricky to fit in with the layout around the new escalators from the pedestrian bridge and would severely affect pedestrian flow from the main concourse to platforms 11, 12 and 5. Probably not viable or necessary.

One tricky issue to resolve would be revenue gating an extended platform 12 as it would have to be accessed from the platform 11 area where there would be a mix of long distance passengers.

If you're moving more long distance trains into 5/6 and continuing the increase in footfall to the east end of the station then options need to be explored to open up access to the main booking hall from the east and south sides of the station. It may also be worth extending the Calton Road walkway southwards over platforms 2-9 and possibly through to New St car park / Waverley Court area.

Once you've done these improvements if you wanted more platforms, 400m platforms for HSR etc you're going to have to move the entire concourse up to the pedestrian bridge level, demolish both ramps and run long through platforms in place of the current booking hall. With the grade 1 listing this would be a very hard sell unless facilitating something very major like European Gauge HS trains etc.

 

[chris89]

So I was at Waverley today and thought I'd have a look about.

Platform 13: Definitely can't be extended even for 6 car trains without demolishing the south ramp.

Im sure Platform 13 can take 6 coaches same as with 12. As frequently the Helensburgh or Milngavie trains depart from them (At least when i was up earlier in the month. Commonly rather 3 or 6 coach Cl 334s.

 

[92002]

Im sure Platform 13 can take 6 coaches same as with 12. As frequently the Helensburgh or Milngavie trains depart from them (At least when i was up earlier in the month. Commonly rather 3 or 6 coach Cl 334s.

Platform 12 and 13 can already take 6x23m coaches.

The current plans are to extend 12, but not 13,which would appear to avoid the ramp.

In the longer term. The new platform 5 would be joined to the extended 12, to create another through line. If that meant moving the new escalator then it would not be a show stopper.

 

[scotraildriver]

No, 12 cannot. Someone took a 6 car in there a few weeks back and caused utter mayhem. FYI here are the platform capacities for drivers at Waverley since remodelling:


1 - 6 car
2- 11 car
3 -4 car
4 - 8 car
5/6 stabling only
7 - 9 car
8 - 12 car
9 - 12 car
10 - 6 car
11 - 11 car
12 - 4 car
13 - 6 car
14 - 8 car
15 - 8 car
16 - 8 car Mid road - 4 car
17 - 8 car
18 - 4 car
19 - 11 car
20 - 6 car.

There is no differentiation from an operating viewpoint of 20/23m vehicles. The capacity applies to all train types.

 

[jopsuk]

The most useful thing would be an actual Network Rail document showing the proposals... oddly there's no sign of even a press release on this.

 

[Altnabreac]

No, 12 cannot. Someone took a 6 car in there a few weeks back and caused utter mayhem. FYI here are the platform capacities for drivers at Waverley since remodelling:


1 - 6 car
2- 11 car
3 -4 car
4 - 8 car
5/6 stabling only
7 - 9 car
8 - 12 car
9 - 12 car
10 - 6 car
11 - 11 car
12 - 4 car
13 - 6 car
14 - 8 car
15 - 8 car
16 - 8 car Mid road - 4 car
17 - 8 car
18 - 4 car
19 - 11 car
20 - 6 car.

There is no differentiation from an operating viewpoint of 20/23m vehicles. The capacity applies to all train types.

Thanks, that's interesting. So in terms of the Edinburgh / Glasgow maximum train lengths increasing from 6 car to 8 car how many platforms can feasibly be extended to 8 car?

• 1 and 20 - probably possible to extend at each end?
• 3 - can't extend into the station without demolishing the operations depot.
• 10 - I would think could be extended to 8 car (would that require complete removal of the south sidings? How much are they used?)
• 12 - As proposed requires demolition of buildings around 11/12 but not the south ramp itself.
• 13 - can't see any way to extend without demolishing the south ramp.
• 18 - can't see any way to extend without demolishing the north ramp.

With IEP being 5 or 9 car would there be any value in additionally extending some of the 6/8 car through platforms / east facing bays to take 9 cars? This could be 1 / 20, 4 and 10.

Platform 12 and 13 can already take 6x23m coaches.

The current plans are to extend 12, but not 13,which would appear to avoid the ramp.

In the longer term. The new platform 5 would be joined to the extended 12, to create another through line. If that meant moving the new escalator then it would not be a show stopper.

The escalator could be moved of course but given the way its been installed recently and these plans have been in the pipeline for a while as part of EGIP it suggests as you say that Network Rail are not planning on connecting the two together in the short term.

I think the bigger question around connecting platform 5 or 6 with platform 12 as a new through platform would be the effect on pedestrian flow around the station. If it required widening and/or altering the pedestrian overbridge it could end up being a much bigger undertaking than just connecting the platforms.

The most useful thing would be an actual Network Rail document showing the proposals... oddly there's no sign of even a press release on this.

Would be very nice to see at least a diagram of the proposed layout on the EGIP or Transport Scotland sites.

 

[snakeeyes]

Bring back Princess Street Station?

 

[edwin_m]

A quick look at Google maps may suggest how difficult that would be. And incidentally it's Princes Street (several Princes, not one Princess, and no apostrophes in sight).