With thousands of rugby fans expected to arrive in the Capital this weekend to watch hosts Scotland take on England in the Calcutta Cup, the City of Edinburgh Council is working closely with Network Rail to make sure access to and from Waverley Station is well managed.
The Council is creating two temporary taxi ranks, one on Market Street with 12 spaces and a further eight-space rank at the Calton Road entrance to the Station in addition to the existing rank on Waverley Bridge. Council officers will also put up directional signage in the streets surrounding the station, advising pedestrians and drivers on where each of the taxi ranks and drop-off points are.
Meanwhile, inside the Station itself, taxi marshals will be on hand to help manage queues and direct passengers.
Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “It’s no secret that there have unfortunately been quite a few issues with access to the Station in recent weeks since the new security barriers were made operational. We know that Six Nations rugby weekends are particularly busy times, which is why we have been pleased to work together with Network Rail to make sure Waverley Station works as smoothly as possible this weekend.
“With the Council installing extra ranks and signage, this should make it much easier for people to pick up a taxi and find their way around once they arrive into Waverley.
“That said, our officers will obviously be keeping a close eye on things throughout the weekend and will take appropriate action if it turns out that these measures aren’t sufficient to manage demand.”
A Network Rail spokesman said:
“Rugby internationals always result in heavy footfall through Waverley and we will have additional staff available to assist passengers.
“The taxi rank within the station will remain open throughout the weekend, with taxi marshals on site to help manage the queue and direct passengers without heavy luggage to the ranks on Market Street, Waverley Bridge and Calton Road.
“Passengers being picked up or dropped off in private vehicles are reminded that they can use the station entrance drop off points at Market Street, Calton Road and New Street car park.”
The Council will continue to monitor the situation around Waverley Station throughout this weekend to ensure smooth access is being maintained.
In the longer term, the Council’s roads designers are currently finalising plans to improve the area around Waverley Station to make it more pedestrian-friendly and to ensure adequate taxi provision is maintained following the introduction of new controlled access measures at the Station.
Work is expected to commence this Spring on:
– New raised tables on Waverley Bridge, the junction of Waverley Bridge & Market Street and at the Station entrance on Market Street
– New Zebra crossing on Market street opposite Lothian Buses office
– 12 bay taxi rank on Market Street
– 8 bay taxi rank on Calton Road (NB exact number of bays TBC)
– 5 bay taxi rank on east side of Waverley Bridge
– 9 taxi spaces on west side of Waverley Bridge (to be operational 8pm to 9am)
– Additional loading/unloading facilities on Market Street
– Reducing the number of buses on Waverley Bridge, without reducing the service
– Widening the footways and reducing street clutter on Waverley Bridge and Market Street
– Resurfacing the carriageways on Waverley Bridge and Market Street
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