The Edinburgh Minute ⏰: Weekend edition 3-5 Nov 2023
Waverley woe, Filmhouse breakthrough, bonfire night lockdown + a busy weekend of local markets, gigs and theatre
🍂 Good morning Edinburgh. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute.
🚈 Trains to and from Waverley station are disrupted this morning due to a power outage. Hundreds of people were stranded and trains were at a standstill last night after an electricity failure around 4.50pm.
⮑ Every train service was cancelled and Network Rail engineers worked through the night, saying ‘a power surge caused signals to stop working in the Edinburgh area.’
⮑ This morning ScotRail is warning that services will still be affected today. - Check on live updates here.
⮑ Passengers who needed to book hotels or taxis can claim compensation here.
⮑ People were stranded on trains outside the station and those inside the station waited late into the night for replacement travel.
⮑ A live blog on the Scotsman site reported only three rail replacement buses had run by 8.30pm last night.
⮑ ‘Passengers were left to make their own alternative transport arrangements’ reports BBC Scotland News.
⮑ STV News interviewed people stuck at the station last night.
🎞 An exclusive in this morning’s Scotsman reports that the Filmhouse has secured £299,000 in public funding. The grant from Screen Scotland has raised hopes the venue could reopen in time for next summer’s Edinburgh International Film festival. - More here from Brian Ferguson.
💰 Councillors have voted against reversing an education cut, which trade unions fear will lead to the loss of ‘vital’ Education Welfare Officer staff who work to boost pupil attendance. - Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter, Edinburgh Live.
🧑🏫 Staff strikes mean only four high schools are expected to fully open in Edinburgh next Wednesday. - Kevin Quinn, Evening News.
🔥 Police dispersal zones affect 12 neighbourhoods this weekend. It’s part of police efforts to reduce anti-social behaviour around bonfire night. - Maps of each area are in this Police Scotland Facebook post.
🐶 Local Dogs Trust staff have shared tips on how to help dogs feel safe and calm during bonfire night. - Phyllis Stephen, The Edinburgh Reporter.
🏠 Councillors voted to declare a ‘housing emergency’ yesterday. - BBC Scotland Social Affairs Correspondent Chris Clements spoke to some of those caught up in the temporary accommodation system, including one mother being evicted.
🚎 A ‘driverless’ bus service between Edinburgh and Fife is now being driven by a human while Stagecoach figures out ‘system upgrades’. - Stephen Eighteen, The Courier.
🍝 Italian restaurant Rigatoni's on South Clerk Street is up for sale. - Gary Flockhart, Evening News.
🎹 Hot Chip have been added to the Hogmanay line-up. - Kevin Fullerton, The List.
🏗 There’s a fun discussion on the local Reddit board titled: ‘You can change any existing building in Edinburgh to be used for something new, what do you do and why?’ The most upvoted response so far is: ‘I would change all of the former public toilets into public toilets.’