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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Edinburgh Waverley station needs me.

311 replies

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!

OP posts:
BoarBrush · 08/10/2025 21:56

TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:52

A freshly baked croissant. I’m listening (I mean, I like upper crust baguettes, I’m totally signed up for authentic french goods!)

And now you mention it, Dundee surely the windiest station. I mean the wind is so bad it basically bent the whole platforms into a curve.

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My dad was in Perth Royal for months as a kid, I cannot tell you how many times my mum had us in hysterics about being cold. That was 30 year ago, sure it's improved now...

OdeToTheNorthWestWind · 08/10/2025 21:56

RampantIvy · 08/10/2025 21:55

I'll raise you - Manchester Piccadilly

Please don't. I'm still having nightmares 😳

Original poster
TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:56

user1476613140 · 08/10/2025 21:21

Again, the guy in the wacky hat is all over accessibility at Waverley. It's his job! He is used to helping people from all places arriving in Waverley with mobility issues or if they're lost and unsure where to go.

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I have never seen wacky hat man! Do you have to show a certain level of puzzlement before he appears?

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 08/10/2025 21:55

I'll raise you - Manchester Piccadilly

BoarBrush · 08/10/2025 21:53

TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 20:54

Ahh! I don’t think I have ever departed from Doncaster, only passed through (and to be fair the train driver has to pass exams to be deemed competent to do this).

I am intrigued, and that was before you mentioned awesome pub.

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Ya know, that's what waverley is really missing, a good pub, Centrals got plenty around it. I'm an absolute genius when I've had a few, so maybe that's all it takes. A bar at the entrance with a bogof offer and 25% rail discount, sold!!

RadiatorDrying · 08/10/2025 21:53

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 08/10/2025 21:47

It can’t be as bad as the Paris Gare du Nord. Anyone who likes to think the U.K. is shit, should try taking the Eurostar and comparing the Gare D N with St Pancras. IMO it’s especially noticeable on the way back.

Added to which, I gather the French trains are on strike yet again today. Sister in law who was flying in from Singapore today, and needed to get to the Dijon area, has had to hire a car and drive, instead - after a very long flight.

This is exactly what I was saying in a post a short-time ago @GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER St Pancras is like heaven compared to Gare du Nord. And Bruxelles Midi is even worse. It's smaller but even more disorganised if that is possible. And the Belgians appear to have passed a law banning digital screens on platforms. So no-one really knows where they're going. It's all a bit pot luck as to whether you end up in Cologne or Ghent!

Original poster
TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:52

RadiatorDrying · 08/10/2025 21:32

To take things a little international, I'm always amazed at how developed St Pancreas (as it's always been known to me) is compared to Gare du Nord or Bruxelles Midi. It's one of those odd moments where as a Brit you expect central European rail stations to be much more modern than UK ones as they were back in the 1980s and realise that actually its more the other way round these days. I didn't think it was possible for a manufacturer to create a seat as uncomfortable as the ones at Midi. They should win some sort of reverse industry award. And there are only about 3 of them.

Sorry to stray so far from Edinburgh, @TallOrLong but lets face it in the time it takes you to work out where platform 20 is at Waverley you could have travelled from Scotland to Paris, eaten a freshly baked croissant and made it back home with some duty free Guerlain before the platform for the 18.34 to Dundee has been located...

A freshly baked croissant. I’m listening (I mean, I like upper crust baguettes, I’m totally signed up for authentic french goods!)

And now you mention it, Dundee surely the windiest station. I mean the wind is so bad it basically bent the whole platforms into a curve.

OP posts:
helpfulperson · 08/10/2025 21:52

Doidontimmm · 08/10/2025 19:38

You just follow the signs??

Have you actually been to Edinburgh Waverly? If only it was that simple.

SorrelForbes · 08/10/2025 21:51

Lovemycat2023 · 08/10/2025 21:39

New street is impossible to leave correctly, as well as impossible to find your platform.

There is a distinct lack of correctly positioned exit signage at BNS. The weirdest thing (to me anyway, who spent a lot of my childhood holidays arriving and departing from there), is that despite all the refurb and changes 'up top', once you've negotiated the zoning and travelled down to platform level, it's almost exactly the same as it was in the 80s. The coldest platforms ever!

Original poster
TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:49

ForestFlowerFairy · 08/10/2025 21:42

5 pages of comments and not a single person has questioned your demands for payment "Payment terms are a baguette from upper crust, a bag of percy pigs from M&S and some scottish fudge"
Are you mad???
Think of the cost, surely we can negotiate - would you like a pony?? A house??
This service is obviously needed but the payment may well tip the National rail over the edge

You possibly underestimate the value of an upper crust baguette to me. Yum yum yum!

OP posts:
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 08/10/2025 21:47

It can’t be as bad as the Paris Gare du Nord. Anyone who likes to think the U.K. is shit, should try taking the Eurostar and comparing the Gare D N with St Pancras. IMO it’s especially noticeable on the way back.

Added to which, I gather the French trains are on strike yet again today. Sister in law who was flying in from Singapore today, and needed to get to the Dijon area, has had to hire a car and drive, instead - after a very long flight.

MiddleAgedDread · 08/10/2025 21:47

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.

WTF were you thinking driving in Edinburgh?? There should actually be a test required before you’re allowed to take a car within the city bypass

Original poster
TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:46

TalulaHalulah · 08/10/2025 21:28

Okay, I take it back that I know my way around Waverley. I have just been looking at the station map online and there appears to be a platform 13 which I never knew was there and cannot picture where it fits at all. And I have been on platform 12 and platform 14 many a time.
I may of course be unobservant.

And to be fair the map belies the additional complexity of the different levels. Platform 13 is probably on the upper level, and 12 and 14 the lower. And if so you probably have to get to the upper level by going down the up escalator.

OP posts:
Original poster
TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:44

squashyhat · 08/10/2025 21:32

I'm just coming on to say I have travelled to Waverley just once, found it reasonably easy to get out of, flew home and have never thought about it since. But this thread so full of love frustration for the Great British Railway Station has made me very happy. Honorary Portillos the lot of you! 😊

Has he done Waverley! He could do a whole feature length episode on it.

OP posts:
Original poster
TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:43

OdeToTheNorthWestWind · 08/10/2025 21:28

It's beginning to sound more like an Escape Room than a railway station. Must go and have a look.

Note to self - take breadcrumbs.........

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It is. But not one that you knowingly signed up for.

OP posts:
ForestFlowerFairy · 08/10/2025 21:42

5 pages of comments and not a single person has questioned your demands for payment "Payment terms are a baguette from upper crust, a bag of percy pigs from M&S and some scottish fudge"
Are you mad???
Think of the cost, surely we can negotiate - would you like a pony?? A house??
This service is obviously needed but the payment may well tip the National rail over the edge

Original poster
TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:41

RadiatorDrying · 08/10/2025 21:23

This is truth, right here.

Birmingham New Street is basically a badly designed airport now. You walk for miles occasionally seeing a Pret in the distance that you can't get to. I'm not sure they're working cafes that serve food or drink, I think they're more of a set really.

I've been using Euston for the best part of 28 years, it is unfeasibly unattractive but so simple. I love black and white photos of the original Euston, though that was the opposite - incredibly beautiful but only practical for a handful of passengers per day!

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I’m now thinking maybe I have not been to New St since this up-do. I would never have placed it in this category. But this talk of a pret mirage has me intrigued. They do good orange juice for breakfast, it would not be good if this were to now prove difficult.

OP posts:
Lovemycat2023 · 08/10/2025 21:39

New street is impossible to leave correctly, as well as impossible to find your platform.

Lovemycat2023 · 08/10/2025 21:38

TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 19:41

I do. Or I think I do. But because I am not psychic I don’t know when ⬆️ means go up or when ⬆️ means go straight ahead.

There is a sign where it uses the same arrow for different platforms, some of which are up, some of which are straight on behind the escalator.

IANBU

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I had the same issue at St Pancras. Ended up on the lettered platforms when I needed the numbered ones!

Original poster
TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:37

Okiedokie123 · 08/10/2025 20:55

I live a very sad life in that I’ve never been to Edinburgh or Glasgow, both of which my adult ds informs me are well worth visiting (but have gone more Scottisher to The Highlands!)
I’ve always found Birmingham New Street hideously confusing. It’s all zones and gates and see through walls.
Tunnocks (all varieties) are imho superior to Percy Pigs. And are Scottish so that confirms their better status.

They are indeed worth visiting (and I am from neither so the Tourist Board can also compensate me).

The thing with a tunnocks is that really they should be served with a good cup of tea. And surely we all agree that this is unlikely on a train. Percy pigs can be consumed with go ginger beer, lemonade or that fake orangina that m&s sell.

OP posts:
PurpleThistle7 · 08/10/2025 21:33

fedupofextras · 08/10/2025 20:53

From Edinburgh, I thought it was just me 🤣

Me too! I didn’t like to mention it in case I was just incredibly stupid.

RadiatorDrying · 08/10/2025 21:32

To take things a little international, I'm always amazed at how developed St Pancreas (as it's always been known to me) is compared to Gare du Nord or Bruxelles Midi. It's one of those odd moments where as a Brit you expect central European rail stations to be much more modern than UK ones as they were back in the 1980s and realise that actually its more the other way round these days. I didn't think it was possible for a manufacturer to create a seat as uncomfortable as the ones at Midi. They should win some sort of reverse industry award. And there are only about 3 of them.

Sorry to stray so far from Edinburgh, @TallOrLong but lets face it in the time it takes you to work out where platform 20 is at Waverley you could have travelled from Scotland to Paris, eaten a freshly baked croissant and made it back home with some duty free Guerlain before the platform for the 18.34 to Dundee has been located...

squashyhat · 08/10/2025 21:32

I'm just coming on to say I have travelled to Waverley just once, found it reasonably easy to get out of, flew home and have never thought about it since. But this thread so full of love frustration for the Great British Railway Station has made me very happy. Honorary Portillos the lot of you! 😊

Arglefraster · 08/10/2025 21:30

OdeToTheNorthWestWind · 08/10/2025 21:28

It's beginning to sound more like an Escape Room than a railway station. Must go and have a look.

Note to self - take breadcrumbs.........

Show quote history

Beware the pigeons!

TalulaHalulah · 08/10/2025 21:28

Okay, I take it back that I know my way around Waverley. I have just been looking at the station map online and there appears to be a platform 13 which I never knew was there and cannot picture where it fits at all. And I have been on platform 12 and platform 14 many a time.
I may of course be unobservant.