More Needs Done on Haymarket Access Plan
Edinburgh Central MSP Marco Biagi has urged Network Rail to reconsider its plans for pedestrian and cycle access to the new Haymarket Station at a meeting of community representatives this week. Concerns were also raised by Sustrans, Transform Scotland and Spokes, the Lothian Cycle Campaign.
Following the meeting Network Rail have announced new consultation groups to look at important issues around mobility, access to the station and cycling provision. Edinburgh Central MSP Marco Biagi has also raised the access issues with the Scottish Government, lodging parliamentary question S4W-06772, and making his concerns known in person with Transport Minister Keith Brown.
The parliamentary question reads:-
S4W-06772 Marco Biagi: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the proposed Network Rail design for Haymarket railway station as part of the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Project will provide adequate access for (a) pedestrians coming from Dalry Road, (b) people with impaired mobility and (c) cyclists.
Welcoming the response from Network Rail, Marco Biagi MSP said:-
“I’m pleased that there is real progress and commitment by Network Rail to look at the issues that have been raised around access to the new Haymarket. The refurbishment project is a one-off opportunity to improve all the facilities. It is not good enough to leave key features to some unspecified future time. If the long-running problems of pedestrian access, mobility and cycle provision are not dealt with in this project the train will have left the station.
“It’s important that local residents have their say in the way they want access to be improved to Haymarket, especially for those approaching the station from Dalry Road end who currently need to take a long walk round to the front entrance. An alternative entrance on Dalry Road or on Distillery Lane is an option that has been suggested and would be widely welcomed.
“There are other well founded concerns on the access for cyclists who commute daily by bike and train. The recently installed bike storage at Haymarket is reported to be consistently full, showing that the demand is there. More people will be happy walk and cycle to work rather than take their car if – and only if – the right infrastructure is there.”
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