The next stage of Network Rail's £130m revamp of Edinburgh Waverley came closer this week with the announcement of a key new contract. Passengers will see a brighter station, with new lighting and a completely reglazed roof.

Balfour Betty has been appointed by Network Rail to undertake the major improvement work in a £50m contract which will see work being carried out at the station until 2013.

As the principal contractor, Balfour Beatty will deliver key elements of the wider station renewal plan including renovation of the 34,000m2 roof, renovation to the Calton and Market Street footbridges, removal of the redundant bridge link between the north side of the main building and the building at the northern perimeter plus new concourse and platform surfacing.

Work begins on site in spring this year, with the installation of a scaffolding 'crash deck' at the east end of the station to support work on the roof. This will then be moved east to west across the station as the roof works progress. For increased safety, and to keep the working environment separate from passengers, staff and pedestrians, it will also be environmentally sealed.

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Ron McAulay, Network Rail director, Scotland said: "Network Rail's regeneration of Waverley demonstrates our commitment to building a bigger and better railway in Scotland. Passengers are at the heart of our plans and it is they who will reap the benefits of a vastly improved station. Our work at Waverley is just one part of a £3.25bn, five-year programme to improve stations all over Great Britain.

"Balfour Beatty brings significant experience in delivering projects in busy operational surroundings, most notably as the principal contractor working on our Forth Bridge project.

"Throughout the work at Waverley, the station will remain operational and we will work closely with Balfour Beatty to minimise disruption."

Marshall Scott, Director, Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Limited commented: "We very much look forward to delivering safely a quality restoration of this principle transportation gateway to Edinburgh and Scotland for local residents, business users and visitors alike."

The new clear, strengthened glass replacing the cloudy wired glass in the existing roof will allow more natural light to flood the station concourse and platforms as well as being easier to clean and maintain meaning less reliance on artificial light and generally a cleaner, brighter looking station. In addition, the station's original Victorian ironwork features will be repaired and repainted while non-essential station furniture, buildings and redundant high level walkways will be removed permanently.

(GK/BMcC)