Environs

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Opening Hours

The station is closed Monday to Saturday between 00:45 and 04:00 and on Sunday from 00:45 to 06:00.

Location

The station is located in the valley between Princes Street (east/west) to the north and Market Street (east/west) to the south. The Waverley Bridge (north/south) crosses this valley towards the west end of the station, whilst New Street (north/south) goes through the valley, some distance to the east.

Calton Road, (northwest/southeast becoming east/west) lies toward the east end of the station. There is stepped access between Calton Road (east/west) and Leith Street (north/south) which also lies east of the station.

Note that the North Bridge, passes over Market Street and the station, providing no access to the station.

Entrances and Exits

There are six entrances/exits to this station:

From Princes Street, via the Waverley Steps

From the south side of Princes Street, you go down 15 steps, going south onto a landing with an entrance to the hotel to the left (east). Go down eight steps, going south to a landing with a blank door to the left (east). Go down ten steps, going south onto a landing with a stepped entrance to the Princes Mall to the right (west). Go down three steps, going south onto a landing with a step-free path to the mall on the right (west). Go down 16 steps, going south onto a landing with Timpsons Shoe Repairs to the left (east) and steps down to the mall on the right (west). Go down nine then six steps, going south then continue, down the slope, through normally open gates, onto the bridge. You'll note the change from concrete to metal flooring as you reach the bridge.

These steps are divided by a central rail and all the landings slope down to the south.

From the Waverley Bridge via the Authorised Vehicles Access Road

You can turn left (east) at the foot of the slope from Princes Street. You continue, down the ramp, with a rail on the right-hand (south) side. At the foot of the ramp, you're at the point where vehicles would turn left (180 degrees) towards the Network Rail and British Transport Police car park. We noted little distinction between pavement, road and concourse surfaces in this part of the station.

If you continue (east) across the road, you reach the concourse, facing into the walkway between the main building and the building beside platform 2, passing the escalator to the bridge to your left.

From the Waverley Bridge via the Taxi and Private Car Access Road

From Market Street, continue, past the crossing to your left. The next section of tactile paving indicates the crossing of the taxi and private vehicle access road. There is no pedestrian control of this crossing.

Cross this road, turn right (east) and continue down the ramp. There's a rail to your right (south). At the bottom of the ramp, you're in the concourse, with the main building in front of you. Platforms 12 - 18 are to your left and platform 11 to your right.

From Market Street onto the Bridge

From the south side of Market Street, you go down three, 11 then ten steps, going south onto the bridge. There's tactile paving at the top and bottom of these steps, plus also tactile between the second and third flights.

Note that the steps to the long stay car park are on the right-hand (east) side of this second landing.

From Calton Road.

Note that Calton Road is aligned about northwest/southeast beside this entrance to the station.

Take the turning right then left (southeast), between the bollards and go up eight then nine steps, going southeast, onto the bridge then turn right (southwest).

Follow this walkway which veers left (south), turn right (west at the end then go down 12 then 12 steps, going west, to platform level. You're beside (south of) platform 2. Turn left (180 degrees, east) and continue beyond the steps then turn left towards platform 2 or right towards platform 3.

From the Long Stay Car Park

There is stairs and lift access between the car park and the bridge.

Via the Stairs

The foot of the steps is beside the ramp going up west towards the lift. You go up one, 18 then 20 steps, going west onto the middle landing. To reach the main bridge, turn right (north) and go down ten steps.

Via the Lift

See the lifts page for details.

From near the west side of the car park, you go up a ramp leading west. Turn right at the top, the lift is in front of you with the call button to your right of the door. Go up to Level 1, leave via the other doors then follow the short passage, which turns right (east) onto the bridge. You go over a lip in the floor as you reach the bridge, turn left (north) for the concourse and platforms.

Local Road Crossings

Princes Street

There are two crossings within the scope of this survey- west of the Waverley Steps. The first (east) crossing brings you onto the east side of South St Andrews Street, whilst the second (west) crossing is just before the Waverly Bridge.

The East Crossing

This is a single-stage crossing with tactile paving and sounder. Note that the sounder gives a very brief signal which does not reflect the actual time you have to cross the road. The post, with push button and rotating cone is to your right as you cross in either direction.

The West Crossing

This is a single-stage crossing with tactile paving. The post with push button and rotating cone is to your right as you cross in either direction.

On the Waverley Bridge

There are two crossings within the scope of this survey. The north Crossing is along the south side of Princes Street, whilst the south crossing is a few metres south of the taxi access road.

The North Crossing

This is a single-stage crossing with tactile paving. The post with bush button and rotating cone is to your right as you cross in either direction.

The South Crossing

This is a single-stage crossing with tactile paving and sounder. The post, with push button and rotating cone is to your right as you cross in either direction. Note, if you turn right along the west side of the bridge, the first bus stop is for the Airport Link.

Market Street

There's a crossing of Market Street a few metres west of the station entrance. This is a single-stage crossing with tactile paving and sounder. The post, with push button but no rotating cone, is to your right as you cross in either direction.

Local Buses

On the South Side of Princes Street

We found two bus stops, to your left as you reach Princes Street via the Waverley Steps.

The East Stop

The West Stop

On the North Side of Princes Street

We found two bus stops within the scope of this survey. The west stop is almost opposite the Waverley Steps, whilst the east stop is a few metres from this.

The West Stop

This serves:

The East Stop

This serves:

On the West Side of the Waverley Bridge

We found four bus stops. The one nearest Princes Street serves tour buses, whilst the fourth serves the Airport Link. For convenience, we'll call the other two, the north and south stops.

The North Bus Stop

This serves buses to the City

The South Stop

This serves:

On the East Side of the Waverley Bridge

There's a bus stop between the two access roads to the station, serving:

The Route to the St Andrews Square Bus Station

Cross via the east crossing and continue (north) on the east side of South St Andrews Street. As you climb the hill, you pass a series of shops then cross West Register Street, you're now on the east side of St Andrews Square. The pavement levels out, you continue to past the Royal Bank of Scotland, across the access road to the bank. There's now a taxi rank to your left. slope down as you pass Harvey Nichols. Cross Multrees Walk leading east, you're now in North St Andrews Street. The slope steepens before you find the entrance to the bus station on your right. Details of this lie beyond the scope of this survey.

Local Features

South Side of Princes Street, Going West from the Waverley Steps

On the North Side of Princes Street, Going East from South St Davids Street

After some distance, tactile paving indicates the crossing of Princes Street onto the east side of the Waverley Bridge.

The crossing of South St Andrews Street. We understand this is a traffic light controlled crossing with no pedestrian control.

Continuing East

West Side of Waverley Bridge, Going South from Princes Street

East Side of Waverley Bridge, Going South from Princes Street

Back Links

Edinburgh Waverley Station

© 2010, Terry Robinson

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Transport Scotland
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