CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

Edinburgh Waverley Station: Car and taxi ban comes into force

(432 posts)
  • Started 10 years ago by crowriver
  • Latest reply from crowriver

  1. MV
    Member

    Waverley north ramp is now indeed closed for bicycles. There are no cycling signs at top and bottom of the ramp. The turning circle at the bottom is completely closed off by metal barriers, which are attached to each other with tie wraps. Only one point where the tie wraps are missing and you can get through.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  2. crowriver
    Member

    I made the mistake of heading to Waverley from east Princes Street the other week, instead of my usual route via Leith Street/Calton Road. As I turned left, a taxi overtook me on the corner, then promptly forgot I was there and would have taken me out if I'd not braked hard. And for what? To sit in the taxi rank of course. I gave the driver the benefit of my opinions in the strongest possible terms, including some comments on his apparent lack of dietary restraint.

    After being cut up last week on east Princes Street (outside Balmoral) by another taxi while on the tandem with No.1 son (we weren't going to Waverley but could have been), I'm even less inclined to approach Waverley that way. Even if the ramps were open to cyclists, I'll generally prefer the eastern entrance from now on.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  3. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Cyclists

    Cyclists are asked to dismount before accessing the station

    "

    http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/News-Releases/Edinburgh-Waverley-to-close-to-vehicles-2099.aspx

    Posted 9 years ago #
  4. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I assume that the now largely unused North Ramp has not been converted into a wide and convenient pedestrian walkway and they are still channeled down the way-too-narrow barriered-off sections of pavement?

    Why do I get the impression that Network Rail is an organisation more bothered at playing trainsets than actually providing for passengers?

    Posted 9 years ago #
  5. chdot
    Admin

    "
    Bruce McAdam (@BruceMcAdam)
    02/06/2014 15:13
    @ontwoplanks @CyclingEdin @NetworkRailSCOT @SpokesLothian 07:00 Room for 2 delivery trucks, but all passengers crammed into narrow footways.

    "

    Posted 9 years ago #
  6. chdot
    Admin

  7. bruce_mcadam
    Member

    Here's some pics from this morning.




    Delivery trucks are using the North ramp to enter the station. Barriers make passengers entering from N ramp or Princes Street take a detour. Passengers have to dodge between trucks to get to the concourse and platforms.

    South Ramp has a carriageway with a zebra crossing on it that extends to behind the ticket office. Trucks could be unloaded there and would only cross the path of passengers at the zebra crossing. There's enough room to turn there and exit the same way.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  8. crowriver
    Member

    By the looks of it, those lorries parked on the concourse have reversed from the south ramp.

    Anyway the situation is beyond ridiculous. Deliveries ought to be made when there are no passengers around, surely? Why are the lorries on the concourse? Can't they use the loading bay at the back of the old ticket hall instead? And what the hell are those crowd barriers doing there?

    Posted 9 years ago #
  9. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Pastie and latte spice deliveries are clearly higher on Network Rail's agenda than passenger conveinence and safety.

    It's Network Rail that has pushed to turn stations into shopping malls, so they should be responsible for providing adequate vehicle access for deliveries (it's not like they'd use a train, is it...). They like to bang on about Waverley being the only major station that still allowed access to the concourse for vehicles. Do they also bang on about how it's the only major station where they're also driving lorries across the concourse at peak hours to keep their overpriced retail emporia fully stocked?

    Posted 9 years ago #
  10. jdanielp
    Member

    When I cycled into the station using the North ramp for the first time on Saturday I was relatively impressed by how pleasant it was to access the station on a bicycle. Seeing notices about the complete removal of vehicles from the station from 2nd June sounded even better. I can't quite believe how ridiculous the implementation has been though... Perhaps Network Rail's logical next step should be to ban trains from the station as well?

    Posted 9 years ago #
  11. chdot
    Admin

    "

    A temporary taxi rank has been set up on Market Street to deal with the 100 displaced cabbies.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/relief-as-rush-hour-tram-gridlock-fears-averted-1-3431119

    Posted 9 years ago #
  12. LaidBack
    Member

    So how long do you think it will be before this gets changed again? Bearing in mind that NW seem to put easy passenger access as low priority.
    Temporary barriers are normally a last resort...

    Posted 9 years ago #
  13. rbrtwtmn
    Member

    Met a friendly customer service type chap at the station. He said the staff had been asking why this ban on cycles had been put in place and that he hadn't had a sensible answer but that it was something vaguely to do with "health and safety". Refreshingly he seemed to think the whole thing was as ridiculous as I did.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  14. chdot
    Admin

    "

    The worker said: “Everyone now has to fight for space along the pavement, that’s people with buggies, those pulling suitcases and those with bicycles. I don’t see why they can’t still allow cyclists down the ramp – that would remove a lot of conflict with pedestrians.

    “The problem is that people don’t know where to go, they don’t know to leave by the Calton Road or Market Street entrances. It’s a complete and utter mess.”

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/waverley-traffic-ban-passengers-fight-for-space-1-3445291

    Posted 9 years ago #
  15. tammytroot
    Member

    Unfortunately/fortunately, the EEN site no longer loads on my work computer. It's not a net nanny problem, the page starts to load but gets stuck at the titles. I guess I will just have to imagine the comments!

    Posted 9 years ago #
  16. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Spokes CycleCampaign (@SpokesLothian)
    16/06/2014 12:43
    Many ppl mailing MSPs re #Fortress #Waverley http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/spwkr14.06.14.pdf You too? http://www.writetothem.com

    "

    Posted 9 years ago #
  17. chdot
    Admin

    If you plan to write to your MSP, might be worth reminding them that SG is supposed to 'direct its policies'.

    (Assuming Wikipedia is right of course...)

    "

    Members have clearly defined and limited powers; they do not run the company. Setting the strategic direction and the day-to-day management of Network Rail is the responsibility of the company’s Board of Directors. That direction must be consistent with the regulatory jurisdiction of the Office of Rail Regulation, and with the requirements of its contracts. The Office of Rail Regulation in turn operates within the overall transport policy set by the UK Department for Transport and the Scottish Government, including as to what the Government wants the railway industry to achieve and how much money the Government is prepared to put into the industry. This means that the degree of Government influence and control over the company is higher than it was before these enlargements of the powers and role of the Government were introduced by the Railways Act 2005.

    "

    http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_Rail

    Generally NR acts as though it doesn't have to account for its actions.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  18. crowriver
    Member

    Surely some one can locate contact details for Network Rail's CEO, Board of Governors, and the Manager of Waverley station? If so, please share here! ;-)

    Posted 9 years ago #
  19. chdot
    Admin

    "Manager of Waverley station"

    Posted 9 years ago #
  20. chdot
    Admin

  21. chdot
    Admin

  22. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/waverley-station-tipped-to-become-shopping-mecca-1-3454597

    Might have to improve access...

    And remove some platforms to fit in more shops.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  23. neddie
    Member

    Does that mean all the shops will be aligned in a South-Easterly direction?

    Posted 9 years ago #
  24. Rabid Hamster
    Member

    Thought best to add to topic rather than start a new thread to keep Waverley in its place!
    New public realm works from Market St to top of Waverley Bridge by Rainton Construction have started (if you don't believe me look under North Bridge). I suspect a lot of plundering of Caithness quarries is commencing going by the deliveries to site, so expect less carriageway and more dog foulable areas for our CT*!
    Waverley Station will become an oasis of peace in a desert of grey slabs! Since Network Rail has consistently refused to accept that 'passengers' actually want to get into the station somehow, I can only say they have brought it upon themselves, and will soon have to provide baggage handling facilities (akin to Edin Flughaven) at Princes St and the Royal Mile! You will be able to throw your bags and chattles on a conveyor at StAndrew's Sq or top of Cockburn St, and be re-united with them at the station platform allocated by the barcode on your bagtag from your e-ticket issued at Geneva Airport!
    The new streetscape is destined to be under construction for many months, adding to the Edin Fest dirty unwashed public chaos! Much joy!

    Posted 9 years ago #
  25. Rabid Hamster
    Member

    CT* = Poll Council Tax

    Posted 9 years ago #
  26. chdot
    Admin

    "will soon have to provide baggage handling facilities (akin to Edin Flughaven) at Princes St and the Royal Mile!"

    have to?...

    Posted 9 years ago #
  27. chdot
    Admin

    Just found the 'original' thread -

    "Drivers face Waverley ban under terror rules"

    Posted 9 years ago #
  28. chdot
    Admin

  29. chdot
    Admin

  30. achilles3001
    Member

    Got reply from David Dickson:

    Thank you for your email regarding the recent changes at Edinburgh Waverley station.

    I realise that the new arrangements may cause some inconvenience to the users of the station but we are acting on the advice that has been given to us by DFT regarding anti-terror measures. We believe that there will be numerous long term benefits to passengers following the removal of vehicles from the station.

    Following the removal of all public vehicles, including taxis, from Waverley Station south ramp from Monday 2 June, it has been become necessary to change the usage of the north ramp.

    The closure of the south ramp has necessitated the use of the north ramp for deliveries via transit and long wheel base vans throughout the day. As a result, we can no longer permit passengers and cycles to use the roadway. The turning circle has been fenced off to prevent pedestrians and cyclists from being put at risk by vans manoeuvring while making deliveries.

    Deliveries are vital to allow station shops to continue to trade. While we concentrate most of our deliveries to the station prior to peak time travel, the only access through which it is feasible to do this during the day is via north ramp. Looking ahead, the station team will look at other options to improve the station delivery process however, in the meantime, all cyclists should dismount before walking into the station with their bikes.

    New cycle racks have been installed on the west side of the station, near the north ramp to minimise inconvenience to cyclists.

    We are confident that there is adequate space for all station users requiring access to Waverley Bridge via the pedestrian ramp.

    I trust this information is useful.

    David Dickson

    Route Managing Director

    david.dickson@networkrail.co.uk

    07786 338841

    Posted 9 years ago #

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