New family lounge opens at East Coast Main Line train station to keep kids entertained
The new space at the train station on the East Coast Main Line aims to make travelling by train with children more attractive and inclusive
A family-friendly passenger lounge has been revealed at Edinburgh Waverley station. The new facility at Scotland's most frequented railway hub is designed to make train travel more appealing and inclusive for those with children.
The lounge was officially opened on Wednesday, December 3, in a special event hosted by London North Eastern Railway in collaboration with Edinburgh's Christmas. The rail company operates daily services to and from the capital.
Situated within the historic customer atrium, accessible from the main concourse, it serves as an ideal spot for families travelling with any train provider. The lounge boasts a children's play area inspired by Edinburgh Castle, along with specially commissioned murals depicting the iconic Forth Bridge and other renowned Scottish landmarks.
Additional amenities include beach huts equipped with tabletop games, interactive games, soft flooring and crawl spaces. Unique to the lounge are infinity sensory screens, reports Edinburgh Live. There is also ample room for parents and carers to unwind, with plenty of seating and coffee tables, as well as a comfortable and discreet area designated for breastfeeding.
To mark the occasion, passengers and customers were treated to a festive extravaganza featuring Santa, surprise appearances from pantomime characters, and exclusive holiday giveaways courtesy of Hearts, Hibs, and Edinburgh Rugby.
Colette Casey, LNER Customer Experience Director, remarked: "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."
Representatives from Unique Assembly, the creators and producers behind Edinburgh's Christmas celebrations, commented: "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!".
Launching in tandem with the Family Lounge is a newly established Passenger Assist lounge situated within the primary customer atrium. This purpose-built facility offers travellers requiring extra support a tranquil and comfortable environment in which to wait before embarking on their journey.
The space additionally serves as the principal rendezvous point for passengers needing assistance whilst travelling by rail.
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