Sun will shine on Waverley Station as glass roof finally finished

Glaziers installed the 24,700th pane of glass near the station’s western entrance two-and-a-half years after work began.

A hefty 909 tonnes of glass, metal and timber that were removed from the old structure has been recycled as part of the £130m project to improve the station.

Network Rail’s route managing director, David Simpson said the clear glass roof had been the major challenge of the renovation works.

“The roof renewal was the single biggest challenge facing the station when work began in 2010, so the completion of the glazing is a huge milestone for the project team.

“The completion of the roof works will mean that the scaffolding and encapsulation which has shrouded Waverley Station for the past two-and-a-half years will now begin to be removed.

“Already, the station is looking brighter, cleaner and more welcoming and I’m sure, when the improvements to the station are completed in full next year, the station will be a far more welcoming sight for the 25 million passengers who use the station every year.”

The station was first opened in 1846 and was rebuilt between 1892 and 1902. In 2006 parts of Waverley were extensively refurbished, including two new through platforms and the electrification of Platforms 12 to 18 in preparation for electric trains from the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link and future lines to be electrified.

The 34,000sq m glass roof has been designed to flood the station with natural light while its Victorian-era steel work has been kept in place.

Balfour Beatty won the £50m contract to put clear, strengthened glass in place of cloudy wired glass in the previous roof. The station’s ironwork features were repaired and repainted while non-essential furniture, buildings and redundant high level walkways have been removed.

Refurbishment works will continue with the concourse due to be resurfaced, canopy replacements on platforms eight and nine and work to station buildings.

Lifts will be installed to improve access from the Calton Road entrance and at mezzanine level opposite Waverley Steps. There will also be a platform opposite platform 11.

Ken Brown, project manager for Balfour Beatty, said an important landmark had been reached. “As the scaffolding and encapsulation is removed, station users will see a real improvement in the level of natural light coming into the station’s concourse.

We would like to thank everyone for their patience and cooperation while we carried out these refurbishment improvements.”

Works are expected to finish in autumn 2013.

[email protected]