London North Eastern Railway have opened a new family waiting lounge and passenger-assisted lounge in the Scottish capital at Edinburgh Waverly station.
Both lounges are located in the heart of the station, just off the main concourse within the atrium.
The family lounge has been designed with children in mind, offering them a chance to let off steam before their train journey begins. While the kids play, adults can relax and enjoy a drink on the sofas and benches, all of which feature coffee tables. There is also a private breastfeeding area within the lounge.
For the youngsters, the lounge features a small soft floor play area based on Edinburgh Castle, complete with a slide and small crawling spaces. There are also tabletop/interactive games featuring play and sensory screens, plus a colouring-in area.
Part of the new LNER Family Lounge at Edinburgh Waverley // Credit: London North Eastern Railway
The walls feature several seamless paintings representing Scottish landmarks, including the Forth Bridge and Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Passengers who visited the lounge on its opening day were treated to something very special. Not only did they get to meet characters from the local pantomime show, but the children also met Father Christmas and received free giveaway bags featuring items from Edinburgh Rugby, Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian football clubs.
The creation of the Edinburgh family lounge follows on from LNER’s other successful family lounges at York and King’s Cross; the one in London also has a small working train set within the lounge.
The Passenger Assist Lounge is a quiet space, relaxed and more formal. It also includes sofas and coffee tables, but also features individual chairs with armrests and has wheelchair parking spaces, all on a hardwood floor. From here, passengers awaiting assistance can wait before being guided to their train.
LNER Passenger Assist Lounge at Edinburgh Waverley station // Credit: London North Eastern Railway
“Our new Family Lounge in Edinburgh sees LNER continuing to lead the way when it comes to making rail travel more attractive and inclusive for families. Millions of customers start or end their journey at Edinburgh each year, and we can’t wait for our family travellers to experience and enjoy this new, exciting space.”
Colette Casey, LNER Customer Experience Director
“We were thrilled to bring extra seasonal sparkle to Waverley Station for families travelling to and from Edinburgh, with a special surprise visit from Santa himself. The new LNER Family Lounge is a fantastic addition to the station, helping make festive journeys to the capital’s spectacular Christmas attractions even more magical!”
Directors of Unique Assembly, who create and produce Edinburgh’s Christmas