Network Rail has awarded Story Contracting a platform extension works contract for Edinburgh Waverley station.
The arrangement sees Story take over a contract previously held by the now defunct construction company Carillion.
Story said that it has been in discussions with the liquidated company’s former employees who were working on the project and are “delighted” that they have agreed to join as direct employees. It also has previous experience on the project, having been sub-contracted by Carillion to deliver elements of the works.
As well as extensions to Platform 5 and 6, the project involves building refurbishments, installing walkways and escalators as well as associated works.
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This work, which will involve Story’s full-time employees managing the scheme with a select number of specialist subcontracts, will prepare Edinburgh Waverley for longer electric trains, namely Virgin East Coast’s new Azuma trains and ScotRail’s new class-385s. It is expected to take 12 months.
Network Rail deputy regional director for infrastructure projects in Scotland Kris Kinnear said: “The electrification of our railway will allow us to run faster, longer, greener trains and cut journey times while increasing the number of seats available for passengers on new state-of-the-art train fleets.
“We will be working closely with Story to minimise the delay to this project caused by Carillion’s liquidation and to reduce any inconvenience for customers at Waverley as much as possible.”
The platform extension project will increase on-train passenger capacity and reduce journey times – by around 10 minutes between Edinburgh and Glasgow and by around 20 minutes between the two capitals.
The enhancements are being delivered as part of the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme and the Department for Transport-funded Intercity Express Programme.
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