Page 12 | Edinburgh Waverley station needs me.

BoarBrush · 08/10/2025 20:07

My mind was blown last time we went down to London and it was platform 6 or 7 instead of 1? 20? I dunno what platform that even is.

I totally agree with the arrows, they all just vaguely point towards market street. No wonder it's always so cramped and infuriating.

And what is up with platforms 8 and 9?

GingersOwner26 · 08/10/2025 20:07

Dearg · 08/10/2025 19:47

I think Waverley represents a microcosm of Edinburgh itself. Visited recently, driving, thought I knew my way round. Holy crap, they do like to make you tour the city and suburbs.

Reminds me of the times Grandad would drive me to university (I went to St Andrews) and he would spend the last hour of the journey composing irate letters to Edinburgh council about the shit signage! Not that he ever sent any…

FunnyOrca · 08/10/2025 20:04

It’s a mess of a station…

You learn which platforms which trains go from (LNER will never be off the main concourse for example)
the up and forward arrows are confusing. Platform 8&9 ⬆️ but also 5&6 ⬆️
the platforms are not numbered entirely logically, but eventually you will have a bit of a bird’s eye map of the station in your head
There’s nothing worse than being able to see your platform, but not the way to it! This only ever happens to me at Waverley

Original poster

TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 20:03

OdeToTheNorthWestWind · 08/10/2025 19:49

I don't know Edinburgh Waverley personally, but for a few bags of Percy Pigs and some Colin the Caterpillar mini cakes, I'd be willing to go up there, do an in-depth survey and produce a map.... similar to the one of the London Underground?

I fear that if you have not suffered the pain of The Circular Walk of Waverley (this could be set to a jig), you don’t know what you are letting yourself in for. I’m not sure it would be fair to rope you in on such false promises.

OP posts:

MiddleAgedDread · 08/10/2025 20:02

TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 19:57

What about the trains going North, the ones going more Scottisher?

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They’re the easy ones, the platforms that end by the central concourse between boots and WHSmith.

Original poster

TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 20:00

Catchee · 08/10/2025 19:49

Every time. Every single time I wander around in circles, upstairs, downstairs following signs that bring me back to the beginning. It's like whipps cross hospital but at least that had paint lines on the floor

For the reward of a caramel wafer I might steal this suggestion of yours of paint lines when they engage my services.

OP posts:

SparklyCardigan · 08/10/2025 20:00

Actually OP, you've reminded me about what most annoys me, which is that to get into M&S by the main (?) entrance, they lure you into Burger King (or whatever it is now) and then at the very last second - surprise! You're in Marks.

MiddleAgedDread · 08/10/2025 20:00

Yes M&S has 2 doors but it’s advised to go in through the middle waiting area building, past the pub and Burger King and then it’s more of a one way system to the tills and past the Americans deliberating over which twee tin of shortbread to buy, to exit opposite cafe Nero and left luggage (should you ever need to leave your luggage)

JoanOgden · 08/10/2025 19:59

tresleches · 08/10/2025 19:54

I’ve used Waverley for decades and when catching a train from there have a pretty good sense of where the platforms are. But I can still very easily arrive into Waverley, get off onto the platform and have no fucking idea where I am

Yes exactly! I can get onto a train at Waverley successfully (after some practice) but get hopelessly baffled on arrival.

When you've sorted Waverley, can I direct your attentions to St Pancras? Totally unclear which is the upper platforms for Kent and which for the Midlands, with the added bonus of the secret Thameslink platforms in the basement.

Original poster

TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 19:57

NicolaSturgeon · 08/10/2025 19:56

They intentionally hide the long-distance trains because they don't want people to self-harm by leaving Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

What about the trains going North, the ones going more Scottisher?

OP posts:

NicolaSturgeon · 08/10/2025 19:56

They intentionally hide the long-distance trains because they don't want people to self-harm by leaving Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

HGSurvivor1 · 08/10/2025 19:54

YANBU, it was designed by Escher

tresleches · 08/10/2025 19:54

I’ve used Waverley for decades and when catching a train from there have a pretty good sense of where the platforms are. But I can still very easily arrive into Waverley, get off onto the platform and have no fucking idea where I am

StickChildNumberTwo · 08/10/2025 19:53

It is endlessly confusing. And don't get me started on the platform (7 maybe) that's an extension of one of the others and means you have to walk miles to find your train. The later you're running the higher the chance your train is on that platform.

I also made the mistake recently of checking the app on the way to the station and heading straight to the main concourse where my train was supposed to be at one of the dead end platforms. Either the app was wrong or they changed the platform in the five minutes after I checked, so it was actually on platform 10 so I could see it, but didn't have time to get all the way up, over, and down again to get on it.

Original poster

TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 19:52

MiddleAgedDread · 08/10/2025 19:48

@TallOrLong always cafe Nero rather than Costa, the queue is usually shorter and the coffee is better IMO. If you have trouble finding it it’s near the exit of M&S food ( which is to be avoided at all costs if you have a wheelie bag because they didn’t make the turning circles in that shop big enough for even a carry on case)

Doesn’t M&S have two doors. This doesn’t help with orientation either. Additional signage needed here too.

THIS door to take your percy pigs to platform X.
THIS door to take them to platform Y.

Wheelie bag infomatic to displayed at both entrances, thank you for your valuable contribution.

OP posts:

Chocolateisameal · 08/10/2025 19:51

I am delighted to find this thread. I have spent years being lost and confused, with my misery compounded by those accompanying me complaining that they are also lost and confused but that that is somehow my fault.

OP, perhaps when you are in charge, your 1st act could be a central support tea bar area, for all the lost to congregate at. We could then be led in a human train to the correct platforms.

geekone · 08/10/2025 19:51

TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 19:37

Here are the facts:

I go to many train stations, I never ever get confused elsewhere.
I never go to Waverley without walking round in a big loop in a state of confusion.
From observation I am not the only one.

I am prepared to provide executive advice. Payment terms are a baguette from upper crust, a bag of percy pigs from M&S and some scottish fudge from, well, somewhere that sells good fudge.

This is not actually an AIBU, because I am not being unreasonable. I am on a train leaving Edinburgh having finally found my platform. See you next time for the same fun again Waverley!

Platform 20 or platform 1?

NearCanongate · 08/10/2025 19:50

TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 19:46

You may. Do you want percy pigs too, or maybe something from costa?

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I'd really like working escalators at Waverley steps, but that's probably asking for too much, so a skinny hazelnut latte will do instead.

Original poster

TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 19:49

SparklyCardigan · 08/10/2025 19:47

The stairs/escalators from Princes Street down to Waverley are one of the circles of hell. But once you're in, it's all pretty straightforward, I find.

Edited

You are obviously are a good, kind person. I am not so rewarded and descend into further circles of hell once I’m in, I’m afraid.

OP posts:

OdeToTheNorthWestWind · 08/10/2025 19:49

I don't know Edinburgh Waverley personally, but for a few bags of Percy Pigs and some Colin the Caterpillar mini cakes, I'd be willing to go up there, do an in-depth survey and produce a map.... similar to the one of the London Underground?

Catchee · 08/10/2025 19:49

Every time. Every single time I wander around in circles, upstairs, downstairs following signs that bring me back to the beginning. It's like whipps cross hospital but at least that had paint lines on the floor

MiddleAgedDread · 08/10/2025 19:48

@TallOrLong always cafe Nero rather than Costa, the queue is usually shorter and the coffee is better IMO. If you have trouble finding it it’s near the exit of M&S food ( which is to be avoided at all costs if you have a wheelie bag because they didn’t make the turning circles in that shop big enough for even a carry on case)

Original poster

TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 19:47

TofuEater · 08/10/2025 19:44

Aren't the platforms in numerical order in a clockwise direction? But yes,I find it baffling...

They may well be! But that requires walking round in a loop to get to the one you want if you don’t know where the numbering starts.

Oh wait. I do that!

OP posts:

SparklyCardigan · 08/10/2025 19:47

The stairs/escalators from Princes Street down to Waverley are one of the circles of hell. But once you're in, it's all pretty straightforward, I find.

Dearg · 08/10/2025 19:47

I think Waverley represents a microcosm of Edinburgh itself. Visited recently, driving, thought I knew my way round. Holy crap, they do like to make you tour the city and suburbs.