Waverley Steps Redevelopment

Struggling on the steps Welcome to our consultation and exhibition web page. This information is based on the public exhibition which took place in Waverley station and Princes Mall in Edinburgh during October 2008.

It details the plans we have developed to radically improve access to the station via Waverley Steps, creating an easily accessible gateway to the City of Edinburgh.

Current situation

It is estimated that around 14,000 people each day – nearly five million every year – use Waverley Steps. The steps have remained largely unchanged since 1883 and are inaccessible to many people who might like to access the station from Princes Street – particularly the elderly, the infirm, people with luggage or small children and those with restricted mobility. They consist of 67 rises over seven irregular flights and are exposed to the elements.

Our new proposals

Waverley station is an important transport hub and has contributed to Edinburgh’s economic, social and cultural development. As Waverley Steps are the key pedestrian link from the station to Princes Street in the heart of the city, our plan is to radically improve the steps to:

make them accessible for all users
create a stylish, easy-to-use station entrance
protect users from adverse weather
make the design sympathetic to Waverley Steps’ historical importance
create a new Edinburgh landmark.

We will do this by providing:

Renovated steps and new escalators

stone steps and new handrails
non-slip surfaces
retain the historic look and feel
three banks of up and down escalators giving access from Princes Street into the station.

A protective canopy

glass and steel construction
provides security, lighting and protection from the elements
historically and environmentally sympathetic look, including tree-shaped steel columns.

Passenger lifts

two 16-person easy-to-use lifts
access at Princes Mall roof level via a covered walkway
step-free access to platform level
sympathetic design.

We estimate that, by making it easier and quicker to get to trains and providing step-free access to all Edinburgh Waverley’s platforms, these improvements will result in up to 800,000 more people using the steps annually.

Consultation Documents

Included in the consultation materials are a number of draft documents that show our plans in more detail, all of which are available by clicking on the links below:

Application for Transport and Works Order

Orders under the Transport and Works (Scotland) Act 2007 (the TAWS) can authorise certain transport schemes and canal projects in Scotland. Applicants of schemes of this kind often need a range of powers to put their scheme into practice and under the TAWS an applicant can apply to the Scottish Ministers for an order giving those powers. The order, if made, is known as a ‘TAWS order’.

Following this consultation phase, we intend to introduce the draft Network Rail (Waverley Steps) Order to Scottish Ministers, which we hope to do later this year. This process includes the following stages:

application
6-week objection period
Scottish Ministers consider all representations and initiate a) Public Local Inquiry, b) Hearing(s) or c) written correspondence
Scottish Ministers make or refuse the Order
in certain cases, an Order is then referred to the Scottish Parliament.

If granted, this TAWS Order will give us planning and other permissions to be able to transform Waverley Steps for all users.

For more information on the Transport and Works process, please visit http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/24105544/0

Have your say

If you have any comments or queries please email waverleysteps@networkrail.co.uk or call us on 0141 555 4547.