Members' Business — S5M-02131 Miles Briggs: Edinburgh Waverley Station Access Arrangements

That the Parliament is aware of the ongoing concerns of residents in Lothian and visitors using the drop-off and pick-up arrangements at Edinburgh Waverley railway station; notes that previous taxi ranks within the station were removed in 2014 when vehicles were banned from the station, which means passengers have to leave the station to get a taxi, or be dropped off, on neighbouring streets; is aware of the particular concerns of older, disabled or blind travellers who may find it difficult and inconvenient to get to and from the station; is further aware that the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee investigated this matter in 2015 and suggested that it was “essential that suitably located, accessible taxi facilities are available at Waverley”; welcomes the work of the Edinburgh Access Panel and other stakeholders in seeking to persuade the ScotRail Alliance to improve the current arrangements, and notes the continuing calls for a suitably located, accessible taxi rank and drop-off and pick-up point to be reintroduced at Edinburgh Waverley station without further delay in the interests of all travellers using this key transport hub.