Waverleyredesignideasunveiled
NETWORKRail,the Scottish Governmentand Cityof Edinburghhavereleasedconcept designsfor the renovationand modernisationof the city's Waverleystation.
Thedesignsincludeextended platforms,a major new public spaceon WaverleyBridge and a new mezzaninelevel concourseacrossthe whole stationsite,whichwill provide improvedaccessto and from the Old and NewTownareaswith fully accessible ntrancesand increasedcirculationspace.
Themezzanineconcoursew, ith wide circulatingareason both sidesof the stationandthree wide bridgesprovidingaccess to all platforms,will allowthe severalplatformsbelowto be extendedand createspacefor improvedpassengefracilities. An artist'simpressionshows the west-facingbay platforms extendedtowardsthe booking hallat the heartof the station. Theoverallroofwill needto be raisedor replacedto enable the constructionof the new concourse.
Roofsolution
Furthertechnicaland engineeringstudieswill now be undertakento developthe plansbeyondthe conceptstage, particularlyto identifythe most appropriatesolutionfor the roof. Anyproposalsto removethe listedstructure,re-glazedin a multi-million projecta few years ago,are likelyto be controversial. Waverleyisoneof Scotland's busieststationsand a cherished listedbuilding,but isalsowidely regardedasdifficult to navigate and lackingmanyof the facilities 21 centurytravellersand commutersrequire.
Thestationlayout,which has evolvedsteadilyoverthe last150 years,isalsoseenasa barrierto growth,with passengenr umbers havingmorethan doubledin the lastdecade,from 10 million ayearto 24mcurrently,and expectedto doubleagainto almost50 million a yearby 2048
AlexHynes,managingdirector of Scotland'sRailways, aid:"We believethere is a compelling casefor makingambitious changesto Waverleyw, hich will improvethe stationfor our customerswhile respectingthe historyand heritageof this listed structure:'