Waverley Station (aka "Edinburgh Waverley" on train timetables or referred to by locals as just "Waverley") is Edinburgh's main train station, and at 25acres it is the largest mainline station outside of London. It is one of Edinburgh's two main central stations, the other being Haymarket Station, located under a mile and a half west of Waverley.

Waverley Station is located in a trench at the meeting point of Edinburgh's historic New Town and Old Town. Waverley's entrances are at Princes Street to the North, Market Street to the South and to the West Waverley Bridge (adjacent to East Princes Street Gardens). The three-span North bridge rises up above Waverley to the North.

Waverley has 18 platforms in use, with around 30,000 passengers a day passing through the station.

The station was originally developed in 1854 when the North British Railway Company joined three existing railway stations on adjacent sites together. It was expanded in the 1890s to handle increased traffic after the opening of the Forth Rail Bridge.

Waverley is now operated by Network Rail.

Useful links

• Live departures and arrivals
• Network Rail Waverley's facilities.

2006-2007 station upgrade

In 2006, Waverley underwent a £150 million upgrade programme so it could meet the growing demand for train travel.

By 2006, each year, 23 million passengers aboard 576 trains were using the station. That's around 30,000 passengers a day.

According to figures published by Network Rail in 2006, Waverley experienced a 50% increase in the number of trains over the previous 15 years.

The upgrades include the introduction of two new through platforms, reintroduction of platform five, and improved access for those with disabilities, such as on the Waverley Steps at the Prince's Street entrance.

After extensive track remodelling and new signals, the station can accommodate four more through trains - 28 as opposed to 24 - an hour in each direction.