Rail Construction News- Issue 1-1- Click Here!
Dear readers,
Welcome to the first edition of Rail Construction News – the premier construction tool for the rail industry.
In our premier issue we have a selection of fantastic projects for you to cast your eyes over, including the recent refurbishment of Edinburgh’s Waverley Station and the extensive programme of upgrade works at London Underground’s busy Neasden Depot. Rail Construction News also includes an update on the continuing works on the Crossrail project.
Recently completed, the refurbishment of Waverley Station was a £130 million project designed to provide commuters with a 21st century environment which maintains the station’s rich heritage. The programme of works included replacing the 34,000m2 station roof with clear, strengthened glass; creating a new Market Street entrance; and the refurbishment of the station concourse and main building exterior. Additional works included the improvement of Platforms eight and nine, as well as the repair of ironwork and the removal of non-essential station furniture.
Network Rail’s Project Manager on the development, Ronald MacIntyre commented:
“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.”
Meanwhile, a programme of upgrade works at London Underground’s busy Neasden Depot has been implemented to improve services at the North West London facility. Once the programme is complete, the improved depot will be capable of fully accommodating the new generation ‘S’ stock trains that are currently in use on parts of the London Underground.
And finally, designed to transform rail transport across London, Crossrail is a £14.8bn project that covers 38 designated stations – including nine new stations. Work started on Crossrail in May 2009 and with construction making great progress, the first services through central London will begin in late 2018. Once work is complete on the scheme, an additional 1.5 million people will be able to access key areas of the capital within just 45 minutes.
This year is an important year for Crossrail, with the project going through a transition phase, taking the work from major civil engineering to station and tunnel fit-out. To date, 30km out of 42km of bored tunnels are now complete.
Commenting on the project, Andrew Wolstenholme OBE, Crossrail Chief Executive said:
“The tunnelling teams deserve tremendous credit for their safe and efficient progress in constructing this major new railway under London. The end is now in sight for Crossrail tunnelling with over 70 per cent of the new rail tunnels now constructed. The next major element of the Crossrail programme will now begin with the fit-out of our tunnels and stations.”
With all this and more, please join us as we take a look at the projects which are shaping our railways.
Alex
