Premier Rail Scotland

EGIP

EGIP
Written by Roma Publications

06/02/14 - 14020602 - NETWORK RAIL HAYMARKET Genric shots of Haymarket Station and Cumbernauld electrification.

The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme, more commonly known as EGIP, is a comprehensive package of improvements to Scotland’s railway infrastructure. The £650 million scheme is a Scottish Government priority and is being delivered by Network Rail in a bid to modernise and upgrade key junctions and infrastructure, as well as widespread electrification of the Scottish rail network, including the main line between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The key elements of the project include widespread line electrification, Queen Street station redevelopment, platform lengthening in various locations, as well as Edinburgh Waverley station improvements. Other aspects of the project include general signalling improvements, junction upgrades, creation of a new electric Millerhill Depot, NEW Edinburgh Gateway station and Haymarket station redevelopment.
Upon completion, the project will see the laying of 150km of single track new electrified railway, the creation of one new station and a new electric depot, as well as numerous station renovations and platform extensions.

The project is being funded by Transport Scotland and delivered by Network Rail. The vast scheme will provide significant economic, social and environmental benefits for Scotland including the delivery of a faster, longer and more reliable train service, providing a railway capable of meeting passenger needs now and in the future.

The project will result in more sustainable, cleaner, quieter and energy efficient trains which will also be more environmentally friendly.
Transport Scotland – EGIP’s funder and specifier – says that rail is the lowest carbon mode of mass transport and therefore is an essential part of a future low carbon economy. The organisation also sees large benefits for the communities the routes serve and predict that EGIP will stimulate growth in Edinburgh and unlock investment as well as job opportunities.

Haymarket Station’s extensive renovation formed a part of the EGIP scheme and has seen Haymarket rejuvenated and transformed into a modern, fully accessible transport interchange. The station is Scotland’s fourth busiest railway station, handling over 4 million passengers each year. The station was in dire need of attention as the previous facilities and amenities were inadequate for current passenger levels; as well as accessibility throughout the station not meeting acceptable standards.

With passenger numbers expected to reach 10 million in the next 15 years Haymarket was added to the EGIP to-do list. Works began on site in May 2012 and the whole project was fully completed by May 2015.

There were four main elements to the Haymarket scheme; these included the creation of a new station concourse and building, as well as the construction of a new access bridge with step free access to platform level. The existing station building and platform accommodation was also improved and new platform level canopies were installed.

Transport Scotland wanted to create an exciting, modern, fully accessible railway station that was passenger friendly. They wanted it to be fitted with internal and external waiting areas as well as acting as an efficient, attractive gateway to the west of the city. The station now boasts step free access to all platforms and integrated train, tram, bus and taxi facilities.

Another aspect of the EGIP initiative was the refurbishment of Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, which was finalised in 2014. The £130 million project has seen the previously aging station transformed into a modern, efficient environment for travellers to relax and travel in ease.
Carried out over four concurrent phases, works on the 20 platform station included the replacement of the 34,000m2 station roof, creating a new Market Street entrance and increasing accessibility to the station for users.

Other works also included the refurbishment of the station concourse and main building exterior. Improvements to Platforms Eight and Nine have also taken place in which new canopies and station furniture has been installed.

As well as these improvements, the station’s original ironwork features have been repaired and repainted. Non-essential station furniture, buildings and redundant high-level walkways have been permanently removed.
The Edinburgh Waverley platform extension project is scheduled for completion in December 2016.
Rail Construction News caught up with Network Rail’s Project Manager on the development, Ronald MacIntyre to find out more. He became involved with the Waverley Station scheme in August 2013 and said overseeing the completion of the project has been a rewarding task. He added:
“The project has been a complete transformation of a tired station; not only has the station been, rejuvenated but so have the staff and the public. The station is bright, airy and modern now offering improved facilities and services for passengers that previously were not available. The station’s access routes have been considerably improved, especially in light of elderly or disabled passengers, who now have a completely different access facility which allows them to pass through the station with ease.
“By spending extensive amounts on the refurbishment new opportunities have arisen such as new spaces have appeared due to the demolition of old buildings. These new spaces mean capacity can be increased and services further improved in the future. Lots of things can come from this project and it has been lovely to see the progression.”

Network Rail’s existing Millerhill railway yard has been identified and selected for site development as part of the EGIP project. The scheme involves the transformation of Millerhill into an electric train depot used to house the new East of Scotland electric train fleet. The new trains will need to be stabled, cleaned, serviced and maintained daily; the existing train stabling and depot facilities are already operating at full capacity and cannot be easily expanded so an expansion to these facilities was desperately required.

Additional Engineering Works are also being undertaken, alongside the line electrification and various elements of civils and track works, to improve the rail network. Low level changes to track and signalling are encompassed in the majority of the wider projects but at specific key points of the network, more extensive work is required to enable the overall signalling solution.

Additional power supply and infrastructure to control and manage delivery to local sections along the route is required to support the wider programme of electrification. A loop at Cowlairs, situated on existing station land, has been installed and will deliver operational capacity and flexibility.
The depot at Eastfield, is another aspect of the engineering works, and will be improved to add more loops and sidings, as well as increased stabling capacity. The depot will be electrified to facilitate the management of the new fleet of electric trains. New and enhanced track section cabinets will also be deployed at various points of the route to control the newly electrified E&G.

Edinburgh Gateway Interchange is another aspect of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement scheme. The new station is being constructed to enable an efficient interchange with the Edinburgh Tram project which will provide further travel to the Edinburgh Airport.
The new station will comprise two tracks, two platforms with linking accessible footbridge, as well as a station building and concourse. This part of the scheme is due for completion in December 2016.

Outside the station development a pedestrian underpass, below the A8 with associated car parking and highway alterations, has been constructed. A linking structure has also been built in order to join the station and the tram interchange.
Associated landscaping works will also be undertaken at the station in order to create a seamless link between all elements of the development.
There are a number of other schemes on the EGIP agenda, including the Cumbernauld Electrification, Winchburgh Tunnel Closure, Intermediate Station Work at Linlithgow and Polmont, Operational re-modelling and Platform Extensions at Glasgow Queen Street, as well as many more.
Developments to electrify more than 50 route kilometres between Springburn and Cumbernauld will enable the introduction of electric multiple unit (EMU) services between Cumbernauld and Glasgow Queen Street. It is the first delivery phase of line electrification as part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP). The project will deliver 16 miles of newly electrified railway to enable faster, modern, cleaner and quieter trains.
Winchburgh Tunnel is a key element of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme which will deliver 150km of electrified railway.
In order to facilitate the introduction of seven carriage, and subsequently eight carriage electric trains, the platforms must be extended at a number of intermediate stations on the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Intermediate station work at Linlithgow and Polmont is about creating platforms of suitable length to facilitate the safe operation of 8 carriage trains.

The extension of platforms and re-modelling of the track layout at the north side of Queen Street Station is taking place, in order to facilitate the introduction of seven carriage, and subsequently eight carriage electric trains also.
With works continuing on all of EGIP’s schemes apace, Transport Scotland are managing to undertake a vast overhaul of the Scottish rail system in a timely, efficiently manner. So rail travelers; watch this space…

PR-1-9-F1007 EGIP (3)

Station redevelopment rewarded

Network Rail’s redevelopment of Scotland’s fourth busiest railway station has been crowned the overall winner of the 2015 Saltire Awards, following its refurbishment. The award, a desirable accolade, is announced annually from the Saltire Society and the Institution of Civil Engineers Scotland, recognising excellence and innovation in civil engineering.

Derek Mackay, Minister for Transport and the Islands, said:
“The Saltire Civil Engineering Awards represent an opportunity to recognise and celebrate civil engineering at its best across Scotland.
“I am delighted for the project team behind the delivery of Haymarket Station Capacity Improvement Programme, which was just one element of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme funded by the Scottish Government.”
Rob McIntosh, Regional Director Network Rail, added:
“Winning this award is great recognition for all of the hard work that went into this project and particularly gratifying given the high quality of all projects put forward for this year’s awards. 12,000 passengers and 800 trains pass through Haymarket every day and the team did everything in its power to ensure that this complex project was delivered with minimal disruption and fuss.
“We are absolutely delighted for the project team involved in the redevelopment of Haymarket Station and I applaud them for their collaborative approach throughout.”

Jim Tough, Executive Director of the Saltire Society, said:
“Civil engineering affects so many aspects of our daily life from how we heat and bring water to our homes and protect them from flooding, through to how we travel from A to B – and as such merit recognition and discussion.”
Gordon Pomphrey, Chair of the assessors’ panel, concluded:
“The winning project demonstrated excellent collaborative working on a live and complex site. That it was delivered safely without disruption to rail services or passengers is a credit to the team involved.”
Other projects to receive recognition this year include the Borders Railway, Ullapool Harbour Improvements, the redevelopment of Hampden Park for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and flood alleviation in Inverness. The Awards were presented at a gala event in the National Museum of Scotland on Wednesday 28 October.

DIAMOND DRILLING2

G & I Diamond Drilling Ltd

G & I Diamond Drilling Ltd is proud to have worked with BAM Nuttall on the EGIP Project.
Electrification of the Edinburgh to Glasgow line via Falkirk has thrown up a lot of challenges for BAM Nuttall, one being that bridge decks had to be raised to allow the high voltage cables to pass under to power the trains.
G & I Diamond Drilling Ltd were contracted by BAM Nuttall to saw cut the abutments and wing walls to allow the demolition of the bridge deck and reinstate to take place by cutting the wing walls and abutments to 630mm deep, a clean edge was left which gave a quicker turnaround time.
BAM Nuttall then placed concrete supports onto the abutment wall which G & I then drilled through into the abutments to allow dowel bars to be inserted securing the supports. G & I Diamond Drilling Ltd were involved with this project at the initial stage taking and recording test cores.

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