Original Haymarket plans haven't hit the buffers yet

An artist's impression shows extra space created at the entrance to the station

City council bosses have revealed that they are in talks with national transport chiefs to ensure that the initial work is carried out in a way that means wider improvements can still happen in the future.

The move follows widespread concern that Network Rail's 30 million project is not ambitious enough and will not improve the appearance of the area around Haymarket.

An original 113m revamp would have included new offices, flats, shops and a glazed extension to the existing atrium.

Talks are due to take place next week to ensure that parts of the wider development can still happen.

It is hoped that a new proposal, including the removal of the Starbucks building to create more pedestrian space and a new link to Dalry Road, could still go ahead if funding can be secured.

The glass extension to the atrium could still be added at a later date if a developer can be secured to fund it, then benefit from the income that would come from the additional cafe and retail space created.

Dave Anderson, director of city development at the council, said: "Transport Scotland say that, although it would be good to have a glass concourse with retail concessions and a better frontage, they can only concern themselves with transport access.

"Any addition to the concourse is not their concern. They do not say they are adverse to that proposition, but that it would need to be done commercially and, given the timescales of their project, added later.

"The purpose of our meeting was really to future-proof (the development] so that we do not rule out that type of proposition for the future.

"Haymarket is an important first arrival into Edinburgh and you want to create the right impression. At the moment it has not got that, so we need to think about what we want and how we create a real sense of arrival."

Councillors approved the Network Rail planning application earlier this month and work is expected to get under way at some point next year, with an initial completion date of late 2013 or early 2014.

A draft report by a working group consisting of the council, Architecture and Design Scotland, Transport Scotland, TIE, Network Rail and Morrison Street Goods Yard developer Tiger has found it would cost up to another 5m to remove Starbucks and other property adjacent to Ryrie's bar and extend the paved area to Dalry Road.

The wider extension of the pavement over the existing tracks would make the extra part of the project cost up to 20m, while adding the station concourse extension could push extra costs up to 80m.A spokeswoman for Transport Scotland said: "The enhancements at Haymarket station will transform passenger access and facilities to accommodate anticipated growth.

"The project team will continue to liaise with Edinburgh City Council in the redevelopment. The proposals will not prevent future development in the station environs."