City parking options(specifically Edinburgh)

shifty_uk

shifty_uk

shifty_uk

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In need of some advice!

Due to career progression, I'll potentially have to commute to Edinburgh everyday(moving isn't an option at this moment in time).

I'm outside of Glasgow so options are: Travel 15-20 minutes to the train station, jump on a train, get off the train in Edinburgh and then walk a 20 minute journey to get into the office.

Or, drive straight there, cutting my travel time, walking distance and sanity.

However, from what I can see, I'll be thoroughly raped by the councils or private car parks for parking which wouldn't be viable on top of my already doubled fuel costs.

Is there any visitor/commuter permits or monthly rates available for residents/business owners, such as myself?

I'm trying to keep the career hat on and not let the commuting get me down but it'll have a big impact.

Cheers! :)
 
That could be an option, it's something I've never done/looked at before.

Would there be a charge for use of the parking though with a bus/train fair on top?
 
Ignoring the money for a second, what time would you be doing this commute? I did this for a year and a half and the M8 is not a pleasant road to be stuck on. Going in to town will be even worse and I'd suggest that the financial impact is one of your lesser worries.
 
shifty_uk said:
That could be an option, it's something I've never done/looked at before.

Would there be a charge for use of the parking though with a bus/train fair on top?
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I am pretty sure the parking is free then you pay the bus which in Edinburgh are pretty reasonable and with all the bus lanes they get along pretty quickly.

As above the M8 can be a nightmare, depends where you are coming from, maybe the M9 would be a better option if going to drive.
 
[FnG]magnolia;24099043 said:
Ignoring the money for a second, what time would you be doing this commute? I did this for a year and a half and the M8 is not a pleasant road to be stuck on. Going in to town will be even worse and I'd suggest that the financial impact is one of your lesser worries.
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Exactly. There's some serious cons to this. It would be early morning, possibly half 7 if I could find suitable parking or a reliable park and ride. Coming home isn't an issue, it's just getting there.

Both the train and car options right now aren't looking too good.

Edit: Just to note, I would potentially like to purchase a property in Edinburgh eventually, it's just not an option at present.
 
Where exactly will you be working in Edinburgh, maybe I can point you in the direction of the nearest free parking.

Regarding park and ride. Parking is free, you just pay the bus fare.
 
Wife works in Glasgow and Edinburgh and we've move to Clackmannanshire as it's very cheap for housing but has links to both via train as well as good motorway access.

Just now if you don't fancy bus park and ride I'd suggest driving to Edinburgh Park railway station or the nearby overflow (think it's cheaper - 5 mins walk too) and getting the train in, they're fairly regular and parking isn't that expensive. Plus it's less of a pain driving wise as it's just past the Gyle. Also gives multiple escape routes from the city :P
 
Halfmad said:
Wife works in Glasgow and Edinburgh and we've move to Clackmannanshire as it's very cheap for housing but has links to both via train as well as good motorway access.

Just now if you don't fancy bus park and ride I'd suggest driving to Edinburgh Park railway station or the nearby overflow (think it's cheaper - 5 mins walk too) and getting the train in, they're fairly regular and parking isn't that expensive. Plus it's less of a pain driving wise as it's just past the Gyle. Also gives multiple escape routes from the city :P
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Junctions round the Gyle/Hermiston Gait are a nightmare at peak times though.

Park and Ride or train and walk OP.

If you're driving unless you can set off at 06:30 from Glasgow and be back in Glasgow for 15:30 I wouldn't do it as you just end up in the chaos of M8 rush hour traffic.
 
I did Glasgow - Edinburgh last year everyday for a while. The train is the way to go. However, if you can't get onto the express train (only stops at a few places) then it may be too much to handle.
 
I hate using the M8 at rush hour and not even whilst commuting. The bit at Eurocentral is shocking on thew ay back to Glasgow.

You could get a bike and cycle to Cambuslang or Uddingston and then ride the rest of the way from Waverly. I'd go blantyre, across the bridge from David Livingston centre to Bothwell and along the road to Uddingston as that wouldn't take long at all.
 
I worked in Edinburgh for about a year and a half and done a commute every day from about 10 miles east of Glasgow through to the west side of the city - only as I had a company car & had to use it.

It's a horrible commute in the winter, a journey that takes me about 40 minutes at the weekend or early morning during the summer more than doubled. The mornings were fine as I was in work for about 8 but coming home any time between half 4 and half 6 is terrible in winter.

The park and rides are a good option if you really want to take the car and need to go right in to the centre but otherwise I'd honestly just consider getting the train. Even if it takes the same amount of time overall (or a bit more) as driving in rush hour the fact you can just sit there makes up for it. You could even consider cycling or picking up a shed of a car (assuming you don't have anything now) just to run to the station in the mornings if you want to cut out that 20 minutes.

As above, if the M9 is an option I'd use it. Would happily work in Edinburgh again as it's a nice place but make sure the pay or potential progression is really worth the several £k's more per year in cost over trundling into Glasgow / Stirling
 
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shifty_uk said:
In need of some advice!

Due to career progression, I'll potentially have to commute to Edinburgh everyday(moving isn't an option at this moment in time).

I'm outside of Glasgow so options are: Travel 15-20 minutes to the train station, jump on a train, get off the train in Edinburgh and then walk a 20 minute journey to get into the office.

Or, drive straight there, cutting my travel time, walking distance and sanity.

However, from what I can see, I'll be thoroughly raped by the councils or private car parks for parking which wouldn't be viable on top of my already doubled fuel costs.

Is there any visitor/commuter permits or monthly rates available for residents/business owners, such as myself?

I'm trying to keep the career hat on and not let the commuting get me down but it'll have a big impact.

Cheers! :)
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Ask your new colleges where they park and consider such annoyances in future when trying to land jobs / deciding where to live. :P

P.S. Magnolia is right, that journey could take well over an hour in rush hour depending on where you are exactly. Longer even, east side of Edinburgh back to Livingston has taken me 80 minutes in the past when road works are thrown in for extra fun.
 
Been commuting into Edinburgh for a number of years now. As everyone has already said, the traffic can be a right pain at time. Especially at the moment in the city center with all "Tram" works (i use the term loosely as i'll be in awe if they are ever up and running and finished after so many years farting about).

I've always just used the train and it's pretty reasonable and regular. Fares are a bit of a pain, but I think being stuck in mindless traffic jams are more likely than the trains running late. Don't get me wrong, the trains are delayed/cancelled and some days as much a pain in the rear, but I think much less so than driving it.

Have had some colleagues doing the park and ride commute from Glasgow areas in to the Gyle to park then jump on trains. But as has already been mentioned, most nights the traffic around the Gyle and Hermiston Gate is a complete joke.

Think i've gone on long enough, if you're still not sold on anyone's replies maybe you should do a trail week of both and see how you get on. Still probably a little quieter due to some school holidays here and there, but otherwise I'd go for the trains.
 
I wouldn't fancy having to drive into Edinburgh from the west in the morning and out in the evening. Honestly, I'd say train as the junctions around Hermiston Gait/Queensferry Road are a nightmare
 
Cheers for the feedback guys, much appreciated!

aln said:
Ask your new colleges where they park and consider such annoyances in future when trying to land jobs / deciding where to live. :P
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I haven't accepted any offers yet, the work would be good but I'm not sure how valuable it would be to my career over how soul destroying the journey would be every day.

At the moment I drive 20 miles to work everyday in the opposite direction and I can generally leave at half 8 and be home by quarter to 6 which is amazing. Having done daily commutes on trains and busses in the past, I'd rather not be in that situation again unless necessary.

This is sounding like more trouble than it's worth. If we're talking the train, it would be £3k a year, not including the petrol my A3 guzzles on the way to the nearest Edinburgh connecting train station. Then there's the social/tiredness impact it would have on me.

Tough one! :(
 
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