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Wednesday 27 Oct 2004

PORTRACK VIADUCT WINS SALTIRE AWARD FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail celebrated a hat trick of wins at the Saltire Society Awards for Civil Engineering today. Portrack Viaduct won the overall Saltire Award for Civil Engineering, as well as a commendation in the ‘project as a whole’ category.  Moy Viaduct was commended in the ‘conservation elements of the project’ category.  Both viaducts are owned and operated by Network Rail. Network Rail scooped the annual award and commendations, which recognise excellence in civil engineering in Scotland, against stiff competition at a ceremony in the St Andrews in the Square venue, Glasgow. Ron McAulay, Network Rail’s Route Director, Scotland, said:  “We are absolutely delighted that our engineering work for both Portrack and Moy Viaducts has been recognised at these prestigious awards.  Both projects involved an enormous undertaking and demonstrate the expertise and achievements of both project teams, including Network rail, contractors and designers. “These projects have enabled us to substantially improve efficiency on those rail routes and at the same time offer sound and safe viaducts which will benefit passengers for years to come.” This is an award double for Portrack Viaduct, which won the Civil Engineering Achievement of the Year Award, at the National Rail Awards 2004 held in September.  The £15 million project to replace the 130 year-old viaduct was one of the biggest engineering projects ever undertaken by Network Rail in Scotland and included constructing two new viaducts, a 210 metre Upper and a 25 metre Lower Portrack Viaduct. Moy Viaduct, a grade A listed historic structure built in 1897, received a major programme of improvement works totalling £2.6 million.  This involved building a new structure within the existing timber viaduct.