Waverley’s vehicle ban proposals go off the rails
Network Rail says Waverley is vulnerable to a terror attack
Plans to ban all vehicles from Waverley Station are to be put off until Christmas.
Station owner Network Rail had told the city council that it would close Waverley to all cars and taxis before July in order to deal with terrorist threats ahead of the London Olympics.
But council chiefs have confirmed that the ban has been put off until December to allow alternative arrangements to be made for the taxi rank.
The announcement came after an emergency motion was lodged at a meeting of the city’s transport committee calling for urgent talks with rail chiefs to block plans for the closure.
Network Rail contacted the council last month to tell it of the proposed changes that would take effect from July.
The council has now been informed that extra time is likely to be available before the changes are enforced.
Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, the city’s transport leader, said: “Network Rail are not requiring us to remove taxis until the end of the year, which gives us more time to try to persuade them there could be a better way forward.
“We acknowledge that Network Rail have the power to stop vehicles coming into Waverley and the council cannot stop that, but we are keen to engage with them and see if we can find a better solution.”
Marshall Poulton, the council’s head of transport, said: “What has transpired is that they have identified that Waverley is one of the most vulnerable [stations] to a terrorist attack throughout the UK and, to that end, they want to get all vehicles, including taxis, out.”
He confirmed that Network Rail had written to Dave Anderson, the council’s director of city development, last month asking for its support in banning all vehicles by the end of July, but said that the council replied that it could not meet that date, adding: “We have now heard that the date of July may be moved to Christmas.”
Network Rail says Waverley is the only major station where private vehicles are allowed to drive under the roof.
A company spokesman previously said the traffic ban had to happen before the Olympics, although that appears to no longer be the case. When asked if the reference to the Olympics was a “red herring”, Mr Poulton said: “Yes, that’s correct.”
Cllr Lesley Hinds, transport spokeswoman for Labour on the council, said: “I welcome that this now gives an opportunity for the council and other groups to be consulted on this proposal and for them to feed into ideas to make Waverley Station more accessible.”
Independent cab driver Rob Smith, from Kirkliston, said he was disappointed at the delay. He said: “I would like to see it closed permanently. Make it fair trade for all drivers.”
A spokesman for Edinburgh Licensed Taxi Partnership said: “The important thing is that we have taxi ranks working efficiently and effectively for station users and taxi users. We hope there will be genuine consultation and that we can find a solution that works for everybody.”
No-one from Network Rail was available to comment.
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Comments
There are 43 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
chameleon
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 01:06 PMTrouble with the Waverley is, it's at the bottom of a great big hole. Most stations are at street level or even above it. Whichever way you come out of The waverley, you have to go up. It is an extremely disabled unfriendly station. Pity princes Street station was closed...
Dave scotland
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 10:17 PMThink it is a good idea to have no taxi,s in the station. Most stations i have been to do not have taxi,s inside the station. The problem then is where do you put the taxi,s. There must be a good taxi service so some thought must be given to this plan and not just ban them without giving them a stance as close as possible to the station entry. Mind you some of the taxi drivers do not deserve to be allowed in as they seem to think they have total right of way. They go way too fast and if anyone gets in their way the driver is on the horn and stops only inches from the person. They forget many tourists are a bit lost and have a hard enough time trying to find their way around without having to watch for taxi,s running about.
Rudolf Hucker
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 07:45 PMTaxis go under the roof at Euston. Load of bull, they probably want the space for shopping food units
james(1)
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 05:54 PMSo let's accept that very soon, according to Network Rail, before the Olympics, oh wait change that because they have had a wee rethink, after December. Some terrorist is going to change their bombing plans because they cannot get a taxi into the station? (Seriously, think about it. This is going to stop a bomber?) Would it not be easier just to sack the idiot who actually came up with this idea? That way we save huge amounts of upset by just making the idiot who suggested it unemployed?
Jolly
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 04:59 PMSo what if Waverley is the only station where vehicles are allowed to drive under the roof?? Is that some sort of argument??
james(1)
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 04:35 PMThis is going to ruin the Olympics if we end up having then in January 2013? Whilst banning taxis for safety reasons surrounding the Olympics could the decision makers not just let them go ahead as planned?
flyinngscott
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 02:36 PMWasn't the justification for the ban to do with threats surrounding this summers olympics ? Christmas ?
harlequin
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 01:51 PMJust one more reason not to use the train,costly,unreliable,crowded,absolutely no customer care.Why would anybody use the train if there was any alternative and now the £300 million + borders white elephant.
Account deleted
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 01:14 PM#26 i agree This website used to be so much better until all these changes came in now its a sheer joke
since1902
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 01:11 PMLunacy. Lets make all visitors lump their baggage up to Waverley Bridge or Princes Street or Market Street to get a taxi or pick-up. And don't the changes need the Council to give planning permission ?
Pending Consternation
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:29 AM“To comply with security legislation, Network Rail has agreed....", Told you he was talking out his arse. Pity the EEN 'journalists' aren't often keen to ask the obvious questions these days, and accept any old nonsense seemingly without question.
paulr
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 08:46 AMNot to worry, as soon as the ban goes in place some group will launch a lawsuit against network rail for not having suitable access for disabled people.
dgg
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 09:55 PM#19. At paddington the taxis draw up on the road *outside* the ticket office. Sorry, you're wrong there. But at Euston I think that some taxis come within the concourse, and probably more centrally than in Waverley. And #27 there's a whackin great dual carriageway running under the station buildings, so let's close that for a start. What pills are Network Rail on?
dgg
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 09:41 PMAt Paddington Station the taxis draw up on the road just **outside** the ticket office - this is not exactly within the building. Go look at a google map and compare it with the pdf station map off the Networkrail website.
dgg
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 09:35 PMOnce upon a day, there was a down ramp and a separate up ramp and a little bit of road between them - and the traffic moved freely. The whole taxi malarkey started because Network Rail wanted to pedestrianise the station. ================================================== How would readers react to the thought of being picked up outside the ticket office?
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