Committee calls on ScotRail to improve taxi access to WaverleyMSPs have called on ScotRail to improve taxi access to Edinburgh Waverley station a year after the vehicles were banned from the station.
The Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee at the Scottish Parliament have been hearing evidence on the access to Scotland’s urban railway stations.
On Monday, a letter from the convener, Jim Eadie, to Phil Verster of the ScotRail Alliance was published.
In it the committee calls for more integrated approach between ScotRail, local authorities and transport providers as well as more consultation with passengers.
They also highlight the taxi access at Waverley station, which was removed last year with Network Rail citing security reasons.
Taxis now use Market Street, with disabled passengers then using lifts to get to the concourse. Elsewhere, taxis can just drop off or pick up passengers.
The committee says this needs to be improved.
The letter reads: "The committee considers it to be essential that suitably located, accessible taxi facilities are available at Waverley which fully meet the needs of the travelling public and which minimise disruption to surrounding road networks."
Another issue raised included wheel wells on the stairs at the Calton Road entrance to Waverley which are too close to the wall, meaning cyclists get their pedals stuck on railways and cannot use the wells.
The letter reads: "The committee would be interested to learn whether you intend to review and, if necessary, alter the position of the wheel wells at Calton Road so that they might be made usable for cyclists."
Jim Eadie MSP said: "Almost 5000 people in Scotland gave us their views on what they think about accessibility in our major urban railway stations.
"It was clear that much more could be done to improve the customer journey in our railway stations, from better signage to more integrated transport options for people travelling beyond a railway station.
"A particular issue was raised with the committee about Edinburgh Waverly station, including concerns about the lack of communication and consultation over the closure of the taxi rank.
"The current situation where there is limited cycle access allowed to the station also goes against measures to promote greater use of cycling.
"As a committee we plan to hold ScotRail to account on their promises to passengers and will question them again in front of MSPs on their progress."
source:
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/1325832-min ... -waverley/
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