Edinburgh Waverley railway station and taxi rank to create platforms 5 & 6 for British Rail Class 800 trains that will serve InterCity East Coast services. In May 2016 ORR gave the green light to a new operator called East Coast Trains which would operate services to Edinburgh Waverley via Stevenage, Newcastle & Morpeth. The service would begin operation in 2021. The main station facilities are located in the middle of what is essentially a large island platform which is surrounded by platforms on all four sides. There are 18 numbered platforms, which are numbered from 1-4 and 7-20. There are three pairs of
Edinburgh Waverley railway station the East Coast Main Line to Glasgow Central and via York to London King's Cross. The station's large size and the unusual topography of its surroundings mean that it contains a large amount of valuable centrally located land. The station's successive owners, British Rail, Railtrack and its current owner Network Rail have been criticised for underusing the valuable city-centre spaces available within, there being a legal covenant preventing any upwards extension, which would obstruct the view of Arthur's Seat from Princes Street. The elevated walkway linking the Waverley Steps (from Princes Street to Market Street) has been upgraded with the