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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:
OdeToTheNorthWestWind · 08/10/2025 21:28

Arglefraster · 08/10/2025 21:26

🤣 primes need to stick together!

Platform 13 is my favourite, hiding itself away.

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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.........

Arglefraster · 08/10/2025 21:26

TryOnATeaCosy · 08/10/2025 21:16

I know and love Waverley dearly, but my particular favourite is that platforms 7 and 11 are exactly the same platform.

Absolute genius.

🤣 primes need to stick together!

Platform 13 is my favourite, hiding itself away.

TressiliansStone · 08/10/2025 21:24

The individual lifts are actually well-signposted.

"Lift ➡️" says the sign.

But stringing together a route is like one of those 90s adventure games of twisty little passages, where you know there IS a correct path through, but it may take several days to play to till the end of the game...

[edited for SPAG]

FeatheryFlorence · 08/10/2025 21:23

There is no proper concourse, either, which is wrong.

RadiatorDrying · 08/10/2025 21:23

JoanOgden · 08/10/2025 20:44

Birmingham New St is terrible since it was "improved". Used to be grotty but straightforward. Now I wander hopelessly for ages trying to find the right "zone".

Euston, on the other hand, is loathsomely ugly and unpleasant to spend time in, but is very easy to navigate.

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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!

Original poster
TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:22

tilypu · 08/10/2025 20:46

Oh god yeah! I would take Waverly every time over Birmingham New Street!

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Waverley NEEDS ZONES.

I feel New St is a contender with the other suggestion of St P for sorting out next. I find it ok, but I note it has had two votes and is therefore on the list,

But Waverley first. Priorities priorities.

OP posts:
OdeToTheNorthWestWind · 08/10/2025 21:21

RadiatorDrying · 08/10/2025 21:17

Massive childhood flashbacks here. Remember in the eighties when Settle-Carlisle was almost permanently under threat of closure? My father was involved in campaigning to keep it going, so (along with grandfather signalman) I spent half my childhood at Ribblehead. It was parky to say the least.

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Thanks to your Dad and Grandad, Radiator for keeping it open. It's still my favourite line and takes my breath away - in more ways than one😁

user1476613140 · 08/10/2025 21:21

TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:16

This is truly a point well made. It is shameful how much more difficult this must be.

If I get this signage improvement role, accessibility information and guidance will be prioritised. There are enough issues with platform assistance itself without adding this extra difficulty too.

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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.

Hoardasurass · 08/10/2025 21:20

@TallOrLong have you seen the plans for the revamped Waverley with super and lower platforms? Yes that's correct its going to be a 2 story train station with trains arriving and leaving from both levels 🫣

Arglefraster · 08/10/2025 21:20

There's a reason it's named for a work of fiction 😆

I can always get to the platform I need but I can't direct someone to their platform 🤷‍♀️ (I have taken bewildered tourists rather than try to explain!)

Original poster
TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:19

AngelofIslington · 08/10/2025 20:45

Which route do you normally take op?
I use Waverley most days. The more long distance trains tend to leave from the edge platforms at either side of the station, or down the stairs on your way out of side exit at Brewhemia.
The more central ones, Glasgow, Stirling, Fife circle ones tend to leave from the main station bit through the barriers if that’s any help

I do various routes, it is just an interchange (ironically, I rarely am just going to Edinburgh). This is part of the difficulty, I don’t get to know what I am doing. And anyway, the LNER trains go from either side, so it still means wandering round to work out which side of the circular route that particular train will be at on that particular day.

I feel my route variety makes me an excellent candidate for the role of Signage Improvement Leader.

OP posts:
TalulaHalulah · 08/10/2025 21:18

TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:08

The map that needs a map to be found. I rest my case 😆

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😂

RadiatorDrying · 08/10/2025 21:17

OdeToTheNorthWestWind · 08/10/2025 21:04

You don't know what a windy railway station is until you've been on the Settle/Carlisle line. Standing at Ribblehead Station (N Yorks) with the wind coming at you from all four points of the compass (sometimes all at once!), it can whip a fur-lined Icelandic knitted hat off your head in a nanosecond...

Massive childhood flashbacks here. Remember in the eighties when Settle-Carlisle was almost permanently under threat of closure? My father was involved in campaigning to keep it going, so (along with grandfather signalman) I spent half my childhood at Ribblehead. It was parky to say the least.

Ellie56 · 08/10/2025 21:17

Surely there is no station in the country worse than Birmingham New Street?

TryOnATeaCosy · 08/10/2025 21:16

I know and love Waverley dearly, but my particular favourite is that platforms 7 and 11 are exactly the same platform.

Absolute genius.

Original poster
TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:16

TressiliansStone · 08/10/2025 20:45

Oh ye softies. You don't know know the meaning of lost till you've tried Waverley in a wheelchair.Angry

I swear a little ghost of me is still going up and down in those fecking lifts – including the one that debouches inside the Mor Bakehouse down the ramp from the plaza – because someone mentioned there was a Sainsburys "somewhere in the mall" when the M&S was being refurbished.

This is truly a point well made. It is shameful how much more difficult this must be.

If I get this signage improvement role, accessibility information and guidance will be prioritised. There are enough issues with platform assistance itself without adding this extra difficulty too.

OP posts:
Hoardasurass · 08/10/2025 21:13

TofuEater · 08/10/2025 19:44

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

🤣🤣🤣 no
Some are behind the barriers, some are to the left (with 2 platforms on 1 platform and I dont mean each side but 2 on 1 side) and others to the right and none of the signs make any sense if you dont know Waverley well, oh and they have a nasty habit of swapping which platform your train is due in at with less than 5 mins warning aswell.

BlueberryLatte · 08/10/2025 21:11

Oh interesting. I have gotten slightly lost st Waverly before, but I often go the wrong way in train stations, so assumed it was just me! I'm only good at Clapham Junction as it's so easy

Original poster
TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:11

JoanOgden · 08/10/2025 20:44

Birmingham New St is terrible since it was "improved". Used to be grotty but straightforward. Now I wander hopelessly for ages trying to find the right "zone".

Euston, on the other hand, is loathsomely ugly and unpleasant to spend time in, but is very easy to navigate.

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Yes but who puts a downward ramp to the platforms, then says do not run? It practically tips me forward and I have to lean back to stop running! Very odd design!

edit: this is Euston, I do not run in Birmingham. There are too many gates and barriers to allow running there.

OP posts:
Original poster
TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:09

tilypu · 08/10/2025 20:43

YAB massively U.

Who chooses fudge when you could have tablet?

This is the honest truth. I prefer tablet. I wrote tablet originally. But then I altered it in case the more southern correspondents were not aware of the delights of tablet.

OP posts:
user1476613140 · 08/10/2025 21:09

There's a guy who wanders around helping folk. He works for Scotrail. Look out for his funny hats. He'll keep you right!🙂

SparklyCardigan · 08/10/2025 21:09

TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:02

Doesn’t it depend which way the train is going? There must be one way round that getting on at Haymarket is advantageous. Maybe I’m so disorientated though that I am not thinking right.

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Nope. Say you board a train at Haymarket. If the train is going out of Edinburgh, you're less likely to get a seat, although it's not impossible. If the train is going into Edinburgh, you can sit down for a maximum of four minutes before you arrive at... Waverley.

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

TalulaHalulah · 08/10/2025 20:42

I think this is bad advice, to be honest. If you get on at Waverley you are more likely to get a seat.

I do recall seeing a station map somewhere in Waverley recently, although I cannot remember exactly where, maybe on the main concourse. I do know my way around so I didn’t pay too much attention.

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The map that needs a map to be found. I rest my case 😆

OP posts:
Original poster
TallOrLong · 08/10/2025 21:07

RadiatorDrying · 08/10/2025 20:41

York is also draughty, I grant you that. As is Carlisle. And Crewe now I come to think of it. It's years since I was there but I wonder if Derby is the same (you can see my railway-connected thinking here.)

I've spent much of the last 30 years of my life on the UK rail network and finally it's coming into play tonight on Mumsnet. Who knew.

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This is excellent input. Maybe Darlington has the perfect layout in homage to Stephenson. Perhaps once they finally finish refurbishing it then we’ll find out.

Actually, Newcastle does not do itself any favours with its muddled order, but at least the signage works.

OP posts:
guinnessguzzler · 08/10/2025 21:04

@Namechangeforthis88

I love using Slateford when I can. I sometimes take a slower train just so I can use it. That's a bit sad really, isn't it?!