SCOTTISH Minister for Transport Tavish Scott and the Chief Executive of Transport Scotland Dr Malcolm Reed visited Edinburgh Waverley station on January 9 to launch a £150m redevelopment scheme.
Phase 1 will increase movements through the throat at the west end of the station from 24 to 28 passenger trains/h in time for the December 2007 timetable change.
Two contracts worth £53m were awarded by Network Rail on December 19. AMEC Spie Rail has a £24m package to build and equip two through new platforms, to augment the existing four which impose a serious constraint on the development of cross-city commuter services. Westinghouse Rail Systems has the £29m signalling and telecoms contract, covering the upgrading of NR’s Edinburgh Signalling Centre and the introduction of automatic route-setting.
The next contract, expected to be awarded by March 31, will see the steps that currently provide the principal access to the station from Princes Street roofed over and replaced by escalators.
- As the first step in a £4bn programme to renew many of its stations using funds from property development (RG 11.05 p668), Network Rail has invited firms to prequalify for major projects at London’s Euston and Victoria termini. NR expects to shortlist around six bidders before choosing a partner to take forward each project. There is around 6ha available at Euston, where the passenger throughput is put at 50 million a year. Victoria handles 115 million passengers a year, and substantial development has already taken place on a raft over platforms 9 to 19. Even so, NR sees opportunities to add a further 75000m2 ’that will enhance the Grade II listed structure and add to the already extensive passenger facilities.’
