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Friday 27 Nov 2009

NEW ERA OF OPENNESS AS FIRST STAGE OF WAVERLEY WORKS COMPLETED

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail completed the first stage of a £130m scheme to redevelop Edinburgh’s Waverley Station this week, with the of demolition of a redundant building on the north side of the station.

The work, which has been ongoing for a month, required the isolation and demolition of the old post office compound and the roof level conveyor which once linked the station to the General Post Office building on Princes Street.

The removal of the building has immediately resulted in a lighter, more open environment and provides a first taste of what the next four years of works will bring.

The site has now been fenced off and will be used as a compound for the wider improvement scheme due to begin next spring. The renewal of the station’s renowned 34,000m2 Victorian glazed roof is at the heart of the project, with the aim to create a bright and spacious station environment. New entrances from Market Street and from Princes Street via Waverley Steps are also planned, along with improvements to the station concourse and building exteriors.

Ron McAulay, Network Rail’s director, Scotland, commented:

“The removal of the old depot building has made an immediate difference to the environment in the north of the station and I look forward to seeing how the rest of our plans build on this. The renewal of the roof in particular will provide an even greater sense of space and provide improved natural light.”

The space created by the demolition of the building will be used as a depot for Network Rail contractors working on the roof renewal project. Use of the site following completion of the roof renewals has still to be decided.