Let there be light in Waverley

• Peter Chong wants to give the new Waverley roof the 'wow' factor, while still retaining its Victorian-era look. Picture: Jane Barlow

Now the man charged with restoring Waverley Station's giant glass roof to its former glory has promised to lighten up the lives of commuters.

Final approval is expected imminently for the roof's replacement as part of a 130 million scheme to overhaul the station.

And the engineer heading the project pledged the revamped rail hub will have the "wow" factor.

Workers are poised to step up their activity after the Edinburgh Festival finishes tomorrow in preparation for replacing the roof's 17,000 glass panels.

This will follow the anticipated green light for detailed designs from station owner Network Rail and Historic Scotland.

Officials masterminding the project said it would flood the grade A-listed station, which dates back to 1846, with extra light. The concourse will be spruced up and decluttered to enable its original architectural splendour to once again shine through.

In a separate part of the project, the Waverley Steps from Princes Street will be replaced with lifts and escalators, and the Market Street entrance on the south side of the station revamped.

Peter Chong, who is heading the roof replacement project, said: "We want to give it a 'wow' factor - people will think they are walking back into Victorian times. Waverley is one of the largest surviving Victorian city stations. The key is to restore it to its former glory using modern materials but in keeping with the originals. That's extremely important."

Mr Chong, senior technical director of the rail division of engineering firm WSP, stressed ensuring minimal disruption to the two million passengers and others who walk through the station every month was also a top priority.

Closed-off areas in the most congested parts of the station will be minimised and work curtailed at busy periods, such as during the Festival. The first new laminated glass panels are expected to be installed in December at the east end of the station, where scaffolding already stretches under the roof across almost its entire width.

Mr Chong said the new roof would look virtually identical to the existing one because of its listed status, and he hoped to retain almost all of its metal framework.

He said: "It's almost like surgery - it will be invasive, but you do not want to alter the patient too much. Its aesthetics are very much in the eye of the beholder.Like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, there were complaints it was out of place when it was built, but people came to love it."

It will take three years to replace the 34,000 square metre roof, which is the size of eight football pitches. Mr Chong described the current roof as a "mish mash" of different materials. He said: "Light levels will be vastly improved."

WSP's 80m design and build contract as part of the station upgrade also includes new lighting, repaving the concourse and refurbishing of the two vehicle ramps from Waverley Bridge.

"It will be like clearing out a garage and putting everything in order," Mr Chong said.

Profile: Admirer of the great buildings of the Victorian engineering years

WAVERLEY is the fourth major station upgrade Peter Chong has worked on since joining engineers WSP two years ago.

He led a team designing the renewal of part of Victoria station's roof in London, which was followed by becoming lead designer for the redevelopment of Reading station in Berkshire.

Mr Chong, 56, also performed a similar role at Paddington station in London, and is also involved with rebuilding Gourock station in Inverclyde.

The senior technical director for WSP Rail's major projects division has been based at Waverley since last December and reckons he has got to know the station so well he could walk round it blindfold.

He said: "I just live and love engineering, and have a great admiration for Victorian engineers, such as those who built Waverley."

Channel Four viewers have also seen him in action on Demolition Day, in which contestants design and construct an edifice then destroy their opponents' structure.

Mr Chong's 30 years in the construction industry has included work on a series of roads and bridges in England, Wales and India. Previous work in Scotland included a floating pontoon at the Royal Naval Armaments depot at Coulport on Loch Long. He also lectures on bridge design.