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Friday 4 Jul 2014

Roof refurbishments to be completed at Paddington station

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Passengers are set to benefit from a more pleasant travelling experience after Network Rail awarded a £20m contract to complete the refurbishment of Paddington station’s historic roof.

The first phase of the work, which was completed in July 2011, involved the renovation of the barrel roof above platforms nine to 12 (known as span four). Starting this month, the final phase is scheduled to be complete by the start of 2016 and will see a similar refurbishment carried out on the station’s original spans one to three above platforms one to eight, which formed the original station and were built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Using the same tried and tested method that was employed to carry out the work for span four, the renovations work will be carried out using a suspended scaffold above the platforms, minimising disruption to commuters.

Andrew Coulson, project manager for Network Rail, said: “This work is not only necessary to extend the life of the roof, but also improve the environment of the station for the 35m people who use it each year.

“We are therefore pleased to award this contract to the Colas Rail and Morgan Sindall Joint Venture, who already have experience of successfully renovating this historically significant building. By undertaking these further renovations, we hope to enhance the experience of commuters and continue to improve the running of the station.”

The completion of the roof will be delivered jointly by Network Rail and the Colas Rail and Morgan Sindall Joint Venture.

As Paddington station is a Grade I listed building, the renovation work will be sensitively undertaken. Morgan Sindall already has experience of this through their renovation of span four which won a number of industry awards. The work will include strengthening the roof’s steelwork; repairs to the original wrought iron structure and decorative scrolls; upgrading the lighting system and replacing the polycarbonate roof lights; undertaking internal redecoration; and making improvements to the roof’s drainage.

ENDS