Possible plans for Edinburgh Waverley station?

[swt_passenger]

My first though was that it is a precast box for underground services access.

Not sure. Other pics, eg that in post #764, suggest from the type of formwork it’s a cast block.

 

[och aye]

I know there is a couple of disused platforms still. One between platform 3 and 4 and another between 3 and 2. Other than that there is very little they could change for additional capacity.

If the ScotRail operations depot was relocated to where the car park, there would be even more space for an extended platform 3 too:

https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/55.95239/-3.18627

 

[themiller]

Regarding the first picture in post #771, and the update in post #773 above, does anyone know the exact purpose of the huge concrete block on the right (P6 side), I assume there’ll also be a matching one on the other side at the same position. The first pic shows a foundation on the P5 side. They seem to be alongside where I’d expect the buffers to be positioned.

Is it possibly part of the support for the side girders of the frangible platform area? Or a foundation for something else, perhaps an OHLE portal?

It looks like it could be the foundation for the anchor point for the OHLE for both tracks.

 

[swt_passenger]

It looks like it could be the foundation for the anchor point for the OHLE for both tracks.

That’s why I suggested a portal, ie a sort of goalpost affair with the crossbar carrying the two terminations. In fact looking closer the first picture in post #771 possibly shows a set of four studs (although not too clear) cast into the upper surface of the block, under the arm of the excavator.

 

[edwin_m]

That’s why I suggested a portal, ie a sort of goalpost affair with the crossbar carrying the two terminations. In fact looking closer the first picture in post #771 possibly shows a set of four studs (although not too clear) cast into the upper surface of the block, under the arm of the excavator.

That's now the standard arrangement for terminating OLE - previous practice of putting a support behind the stops is out of favour presumably because of the risk of an overrun bringing the wires down.

Another possibility is the major sewer that someone mentioned upthread.

 

[route101]

Last few times using the toilets , they are letting the people through without paying , are the toilets free now ?

 

[InOban]

I thought I read that NR had made the toilets free at all the stations which they manage.

 

[route101]

I thought I read that NR had made the toilets free at all the stations which they manage.

Not at Glasgow Centrall .... yet

 

[GW43125]

Not at Glasgow Centrall .... yet

Nor Manchester Picc (as of mid November)

 

[385001]

Scotrail has posted this pic of platforms 5 & 6 on their Twitter account today.

https://twitter.com/ScotRail/status/1071827707502186501

 

[385001]

View of platforms 5 & 6 from earlier this afternoon.

 

[385001]

OLE being installed on platforms 5 & 6. Scheduled to be live from 27th December per this tweet.

https://twitter.com/lner_adamreid/status/1073203746212069377

Overhead wires can be hard to see and at Edinburgh Waverley we have some new ones on Platforms 5 and 6 which will be turned on from 27th December. These carry 25,000 volts. Be aware of your surroundings. Platforms 5 and 6 will be used for @LNER Edinburgh to London trains.

 

[swt_passenger]

Thanks for the regular updates. Looks like the second (left side) concrete block foundation, (assumed for the OHLE gantry), is getting ready to be poured, that must be the one of the last heavyweight items to install?

 

[GW43125]

Forgive me for seemingly living under a rock, are platforms 5&6 going to be long enough to hold a 10-car 80x?

 

[InOban]

That's the whole point. They will become the main departure platforms for London trains.

 

[och aye]

Just as a bit of trivia, does anyone know roughly when Waverley didn't have any "missing" platform numbers?

 

[gsnedders]

That's the whole point. They will become the main departure platforms for London trains.

And specifically the point is to avoid the necessity of using the through platforms for Edinburgh terminating long-distance services arriving from the ECML.

 

[och aye]

It looks like completion of platforms 5 & 6 is pretty close now:

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailSCOT/status/1076152105117859843

 

[AndyB28]

Just as a bit of trivia, does anyone know roughly when Waverley didn't have any "missing" platform numbers?

Seconded! In fact, I'd be grateful if anyone knows of a brief history of how Waverley has evolved over the years.
I used to commute from Kirkcaldy into Waverley between 2000 - 2006 and it's fascinating seeing these new developments. It's getting to be a really busy place.

 

[47271]

Seconded! In fact, I'd be grateful if anyone knows of a brief history of how Waverley has evolved over the years.
I used to commute from Kirkcaldy into Waverley between 2000 - 2006 and it's fascinating seeing these new developments. It's getting to be a really busy place.

There's this 2014 book if you're interested, available to download, I haven't made any online seller's job too easy for them by including a link:

Edinburgh Waverley Station Through Time

Product Description
Waverley is Scotland's largest railway station and covering an area of 25 acres it is the second largest mainline station in the UK after Waterloo. Unusually for such an important destination it is both a terminus and a through station. In the 1840s, three railway companies built stations at the east end of what had been the Nor Loch North Bridge, General and Canal Street and these became known collectively as Waverley from around 1854. By 1865, the North British Railway company had acquired all three, and between 1892 and 1900 it was completely rebuilt to form the present Victorian structure. Under the LNER s reign Waverley became the symbolic destination for the East Coast Main Line trains with a series of high-profile expresses departing daily from King's Cross, London. Edinburgh resident and expert Michael Meighan explores this great station, showing how it has changed over the years.

 

[railjock]

There's this 2014 book if you're interested, available to download, I haven't made any online seller's job too easy for them by including a link:

Edinburgh Waverley Station Through Time

Product Description
Waverley is Scotland's largest railway station and covering an area of 25 acres it is the second largest mainline station in the UK after Waterloo. Unusually for such an important destination it is both a terminus and a through station. In the 1840s, three railway companies built stations at the east end of what had been the Nor Loch North Bridge, General and Canal Street and these became known collectively as Waverley from around 1854. By 1865, the North British Railway company had acquired all three, and between 1892 and 1900 it was completely rebuilt to form the present Victorian structure. Under the LNER s reign Waverley became the symbolic destination for the East Coast Main Line trains with a series of high-profile expresses departing daily from King's Cross, London. Edinburgh resident and expert Michael Meighan explores this great station, showing how it has changed over the years.

I have that book but it is more photo focussed rather than a detailed history of how the station has evolved unfortunately.

 

[47271]

I have that book but it is more photo focussed rather than a detailed history of how the station has evolved unfortunately.

Fair enough - suffice to say I flicked through it in a shop a couple of years ago and decided not to buy it. I think you might have reminded me why I took that decision!

 

[AndyB28]

Many thanks 47271 and railjock for your comments. Still sounds quite a nice book though so if Santa leaves a bit of extra cash I just may indulge ...!

 

[InOban]

Photos taken this morning. As you can see, all the track and wiring is complete, but still platform surfacing and buffer stops. I assume the fixtures in the last picture are to isolate the OHLE in the platforms.

 

[385001]

Photos taken this morning. As you can see, all the track and wiring is complete, but still platform surfacing and buffer stops. I assume the fixtures in the last picture are to isolate the OHLE in the platforms.

View attachment 57255 View attachment 57256 View attachment 57257

Thanks for the pics @InOban . I'm heading to Waverley shortly so look forward to seeing for myself.

Shouldn't be too long before the King's Cross to Waverley services can use them and provide a better experience by arriving in the main station rather than platforms 8 & 9.

 

[reb0118]

Shouldn't be too long before the King's Cross to Waverley services can use them and provide a better experience by arriving in the main station rather than platforms 8 & 9.

I take your point. However, what does the forum think about the congestion, if any, caused when a heavily loaded London arrival disgorges its passengers onto an already busy concourse area? The suburban platforms may be relatively remote but at least some of the footfall has dissipated somewhat before reaching the concourse.

 

[najaB]

I take your point. However, what does the forum think about the congestion, if any, caused when a heavily loaded London arrival disgorges its passengers onto an already busy concourse area? The suburban platforms may be relatively remote but at least some of the footfall has dissipated somewhat before reaching the concourse.

It's not going to be any worse than when they use platform 11 or 19.

Edit: Looking at RTT it seems there aren't as many 11 terminators as there used to be.

 

[railjock]

It's not going to be any worse than when they use platform 11 or 19.

Edit: Looking at RTT it seems there aren't as many 11 terminators as there used to be.

Crowd control will be interesting as the new platforms look quite narrow.

 

[47271]

P5 can clear in two directions so, although its width won't be great, it shouldn't suffer from too much congestion.

I think the main new risk is likely to be conflicts between foot traffic for platforms 6 and 7. For example a full LNER train arrives at 6 just as they announce a busy Transpennine at 7. Hordes of people trying to get round each other close to edge of P11 just as another train goes by. But I'm sure that they've thought of that...

 

[reb0118]

But I'm sure that they've thought of that...

How about a one way system around the escalators?