Network Rail's GBP 150million upgrade of Waverley Station's tracks and platforms has been completed on schedule and within budget, in time to welcome the new train operators, National Express East Coast, First TransPennine Express and CrossCountry.
Following almost one million man-hours of work over the last 23 months, Waverley can now provide capacity for the increased number of services set to use the station in the next few years, including the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link Project.
Completion of the Transport Scotland funded project also enables a full capacity service to run for festive shoppers and revellers from 9 December until Christmas Day. The end of the platform works does not, however, mark the end of all construction works at the station. The Mound Tunnel will be subject to major engineering works during the holiday period (25 Dec to 4 Jan), while redecoration of the station is likely to continue into early 2008.
Ron McAulay, Network Rail's Director, Scotland said:
"The completion of the track and platform works, on time and on budget, is an enormous achievement for the team working on this project. The complex nature of the works and the imperative to keep Waverley Station operating smoothly resulted in enormous pressures on the construction team and the station management. They demonstrated superb team work to complete these works on schedule and with the minimum of disruption to passengers."
"Our immediate focus for Waverley Station is to get the Mound Tunnel work complete over Christmas and to carry out some renewal of some parts of the station which have begun to look run down. Looking further ahead, we have planned a full refurbishment of the station and the station roof."
ENDS
Notes to editors
Network Rail started work in and around the station in January 2006. Since then, the project team has worked tirelessly to deliver the major works within budget and ahead of schedule. In total, nearly one million man hours have been worked to complete:
· Over 1km of new and extended platforms
· 4 new platforms at Edinburgh Waverley (new platforms 1, 3, 10 and 20)
· 2 new escalators
· 2 new passenger lifts
· Extensive remodelling of tracks and signalling to increase the number of trains that can travel through the station
Looking to the future, the redevelopment of Edinburgh Waverley will play a key role in achieving other strategic priorities for the Scottish Government and Network Rail. Having improved access to the station for passengers and increased capacity for more trains, Waverley is now capable of bringing new services, such as the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link, to and from the Capital.
RETURNING SERVICES
On 9th December, the new permanent rail timetable will be introduced. With the track remodelling in the west of the station, or ‘west throat’, and platform improvements now complete, passengers using services departing from and terminating at Haymarket since December 2006 will be able to travel into Waverley again.
That includes Newcraighall-Bathgate-Dunblane through services and all Fife Circle services, and a full timetable reinstated between Edinburgh and West Calder.
A number of other services to and from Edinburgh Waverley will be subject to minor retimings intended to improve punctuality.
New timetables are now available in the station and passengers requiring information on train times may contact National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.
GNER trains will return to normal service from today, continuing from Waverley to Glasgow Central station via Motherwell.
WAVERLEY BRIDGE WORKS
Over the Christmas period the Waverley project team will be lending a hand to the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link Project. To allow electric trains to operate into the station for the new rail link, Network Rail will create the necessary fittings on Waverley Bridge to enable overhead line structures and electric cables to be installed.
In addition, the tracks running through the middle Mound Tunnel will be lowered to provide clearance for overhead wires to run above the trains.
FAST FACTS
Transport Scotland is funding the GBP 150 million investment in Edinburgh Waverley and the work is being delivered by Network Rail.
At 23 acres, Edinburgh Waverley is Britain's second largest train station outside London, accommodating over 23.5 million annual passengers and 576 trains every day.
Over the past 15 years, the number of trains has increased by 50% and passenger numbers across Scotland are predicted to rise by around 3% each year.
WAVERLEY WORKS IN NUMBERS
1.3 km new platforms
37 new signals
470 consecutive days safe working
3,690 metres of new track
8,064 sleepers
27,000 tonnes of spoil removed
942,678 man hours worked
1,250,000 engineering bricks used
NEXT STEPS
Looking ahead, we will be installing nearly 100 bases and other structures in advance of engineering work in the Mound Tunnel and Waverley Bridge for electrification
In the coming months, a programme of work will also continue to add the finishing touches to the station. Included in this work is the installation of new modern passenger information boards for all platforms, new security cameras, improvements to the staircases at Calton Road, platforms 8 and 9, and Market Street as well as new bench seating at locations throughout the station.
By July next year, Network Rail will also have successfully completed the transition of signalling operations to our £13 million state-of-the-art 'Integrated Electronic Control Centre'. This new centre controls all the immediate areas around Edinburgh as well as the Borders and Fife and is a major step forward in modernising operations fit for the 21st century.
New rail franchises operating in Waverley:
From 11 November
Cross Country route: CrossCountry Trains
From 9 December
TransPennine: TransPennine Express
From 9 December:
East Coast Main Line: National Express East Coast
About Network RailNetwork Rail is the not for dividend owner and operator of Britain's railway infrastructure, which includes the tracks, signals, tunnels, bridges, viaducts, level crossings and stations - the largest of which we also manage. We aim to provide a safe, reliable and efficient rail infrastructure for freight and passenger trains to use.
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