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Wednesday 12 Jul 2023

Stirling station roof wins prestigious award

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Official recognition of the craft skills used during Stirling station’s roof repairs were acknowledged with a plaque unveiling.

The Great Western Railway Craft Skills Award, which recognises the best use of traditional craft skills in the restoration of a building, was awarded to the Network Rail team responsible for the roof work.

Work began in February 2021 after significant areas of slate had eroded or been damaged with water ingress in the 100-year-old grade A listed station building.

Engineers had to remove the existing roof coverings, inspect the timber and, where necessary, repair or replace part of the roof. New lead was also installed, and reclaimed slate was used in all public-facing sections of the roof.

Inspections and repairs were carried out on the rotunda, which sits in the centre of the main station. This section was fully stripped of all lead and clad in new lead. It was that part of the work that the award recognised due to the skill and craftsmanship required.

Repairs were carried out to existing chimneys that had become damaged by weather over the years.

Upon completion of the work in November 2022, the project received the prestigious award in recognition of the skills involved.

Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway, said: “Winning this award is fantastic as it clearly demonstrates that our teams have the skills and resources to successfully and sympathetically manage heritage buildings. We have demonstrated that we are able to give heritage buildings due care and attention throughout the full development of a project.

“These are skills that we utilise across a number of our listed buildings, including Wemyss Bay and Troon stations. Preserving our historical structures is essential and allows us to ensure that they bear witness to generations to come.”

Andy Savage, chairman of the National Rail Heritage Association, said: “It’s really special to be here today to see the completed work at Stirling station and acknowledge the great work that the team did.

“It is critical that our historic buildings are preserved and join us in the modern era.

“They are great examples of architecture and we can learn so much from their design.

“From seeing troops go off to fight on the front in the first world war, to soldiers returning to their families, Stirling station has not only been of importance to the local community but also the British military in times of need. We look forward to seeing it continue to serve the community for many years to come.”

If you have any questions about Network Rail’s current works, you can contact the 24-hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41. For the latest information and progress updates follow us on Twitter @NetworkRailScot or visit www.scotlandsrailway.com