Edinburgh Gateway station

Edinburgh Gateway station is a railway station and interchange at Gogar in Edinburgh, Scotland, which opened on 11 December 2016.[2] It is served by Abellio ScotRail and Edinburgh Trams, and serves both Gogar and Edinburgh Airport, to which it is connected by the tram line.

Edinburgh Gateway Scottish Gaelic: Slighe Dhùn Èideann[1]
Edinburgh Gateway station, view south from the pedestrian over-bridge
Location	Gogar, Edinburgh Scotland
Coordinates	55.941°N 3.320°W
Grid reference	NT176727
Owned by	Network Rail Edinburgh Trams
Managed by	Abellio ScotRail
Platforms	4 (2 National Rail & 2 Edinburgh Trams)
Other information
Station code	EGY
Key dates
11 December 2016	Opened
Passengers
2016/17	58,386
2017/18	0.284 million
2018/19	0.324 million
Interchange	2,397
2019/20	0.293 million
Interchange	1,739
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Background

A ScotRail train passing Edinburgh Airport, prior to the construction of Edinburgh Gateway station and close to its present site.

As part of the Strategic Transports Project Review, which plans what is going to happen with Scotland's transport over the next 20 years, 29 investment priorities were identified in support of the future growth of Scotland's businesses and communities. One of these was the construction of Gogar station for better access to Edinburgh Airport through onward travel on the Edinburgh tram network as well as the rest of the area through the integration with the tram system.[3] This may be to compensate for the scrapping of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link[4] and the station was part of the original proposal. The station would also thought to be delivered sooner.[5][6]

Edinburgh Gateway tram connections map

EGIP

The railway station is part of the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), a major Scottish transport project involving infrastructure improvements and electrification of most railway lines between Glasgow and Edinburgh. It was intended that services between the two cities will increase to 13 trains per hour with fastest time being 35 minutes but after the Scottish Department For Transport reviewed the project, it was down scaled and services will continue to be every 15 minutes but with new, longer electric trains, which will at least meet the journey time targets originally set out. The project also includes the electrification of eight routes and 350 km of existing lines.[4][7] The Shotts Line will have an increase in services with the provision of a limited express service.[4]

Location and infrastructure

An Edinburgh Tram passing Edinburgh Gateway tram stop

The railway station is located at the A8 to the east of Gogar.[4] The station has two platforms. The platforms have been constructed to accommodate the longest trains currently operating in Scotland (London North Eastern Railway). A chord is proposed a few miles to the north of the station, near the River Almond crossing, to provide another link between Glasgow and Edinburgh with potential for increasing services through.[4][5][8]

The original design for the station included a 1st floor and high level bridge but following consultation these were removed with an at-grade bridge providing easier access. The design of the station is to provide a secure covered area for parking of 100 cycles as well as five cycle lockers. This is located next to the station building and is monitored by CCTV. Lifts inside the station building are large enough to accommodate bicycles. The station provides an interchange with Edinburgh Trams to Edinburgh and the airport as well as providing more access to The Gyle Shopping Centre through a subway under the A8.[4][7]

History

Network Rail submitted its plans for the interchange on 9 October 2009 following completion of the pre-planning submission consultation. Gogar was the first infrastructure project to go the through the National Planning Framework. The consultation involved four public exhibitions with clear public support for the investments and the proposal.[7]

When the tram line was built in 2013, provision was made for Edinburgh Gateway but it would not open until the same time as the railway station. In February 2015, a contract to build the station was awarded to Balfour Beatty with work commencing in April 2015.[9][10] The new station building was designed by IDP Architects.[11]

In June 2016 the station was badly vandalised while still under construction. Vehicles and windows were damaged.[12]

Edinburgh Gateway station was officially opened by the Scottish Government Minister for Transport and the Islands Humza Yousaf on 9 November 2016.[13] The station opened to the public on 11 December 2016.[2]

Services

Edinburgh Gateway station is served half-hourly by trains operating on the Fife Circle Line, and hourly by services operating to Perth, Dundee and Inverness.

Fife Circle trains scheduled to stop at Edinburgh Gateway will normally skip the nearby South Gyle station.

All Edinburgh Trams services are currently scheduled to call at Edinburgh Gateway.

References

1. Brailsford, Martyn, ed. (December 2017) [1987]. "Gaelic/English Station Index". Railway Track Diagrams 1: Scotland & Isle of Man (6th ed.). Frome: Trackmaps. ISBN 978-0-9549866-9-8.
2. "New Edinburgh Gateway interchange opens in capital". BBC News. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
3. "Strategic Transport Projects Review". Scottish Executive. 10 December 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
4. Abbott, James (October 2009). James Abbott (ed.). "Walk like an EGIPtian". Modern Railways. Ian Allan Publishing. 66: 48–49.
5. "Edinburgh Airport rail improvements". Scottish Executive. 27 September 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
6. Stewart Stevenson (10 December 2008). "Edinburgh Airport Rail Link". Scottish Executive. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
7. "Gogar Rail Interchange". Network Rail. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
8. "History: EARL, Edinburgh Gateway and trams". www.eisl.org.uk. Edinburgh International Surface Link. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
9. "Balfour Beatty wins Edinburgh Gateway station". Construction Enquirer. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
10. "Work begins on new West Edinburgh train station". Edinburgh Evening News. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
11. "Edinburgh Gateway". IDP Architects. IDP Architects. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
12. "Edinburgh Gateway railway station 'extensively damaged'". BBC News. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
13. "New £41m Edinburgh Gateway station now open". Rail Technology Magazine. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2020.

External links

• Video footage of Edinburgh Gateway Railway Station
• Video footage of Edinburgh Gateway Tram Stop