01.07.20
Queen Street project to restart after £64m investment
Network Rail Scotland is resuming work on major construction across Scotland’s Railway following a three-month standstill due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
Reconstructive work on Glasgow Queen Street station, the new £14m Kintore station and the completion of the £13m redevelopment of Dunbar station will all resume over the coming weeks.
Network Rail has played a key role in keeping Scotland’s economy moving during the lockdown period, investing more than £64m in projects to renew and improve the railway during the pandemic.
Work at Glasgow Queen Street station will resume this week with activity focusing on the internal fit-out to the staff management suite, Travel Shop and basement area, as well as the new entrance near the corner of George Square.
Mobilisation is also underway at Kintore station in Aberdeenshire where the project team is currently undertaking risk assessments and expects to resume construction work by the end of June.
The new Kintore station is being delivered as part of the Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project and will re-establish a rail link in the town for the first time in 50 years.
At Dunbar, where a new second platform was added in late 2019, measures are being put in place to allow the team to complete work on cladding the new lift towers and completing the station car park extension.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson, said: “Efforts across Scotland’s Railway, from frontline staff running day to day services to those in planning and maintenance roles behind the scenes, have played a fundamental part in ensuring key workers are able to get to where they are needed during this pandemic.
“While many non-essential projects were rightfully paused, our continued investment in maintaining vital rail infrastructure has given reassurance at a difficult time.
"As we now make the transition through the Routemap to Recovery, it is important we step up work where we can. This will enable us safely to resume key projects such as the new Kintore station and Queen Street station improvements, bringing investment at a time when the supply chain and its workers need it most.
“I look forward to seeing these significant projects make progress because their completion will bring benefits to passengers, workers and the economy alike.”
Image: Network Rail