Network Rail has appointed BAM Nuttall to assist in the delivery of the Borders Railway as the project moves another step closer to delivery.
The contract allows Network Rail to continue design and advance works on behalf of Transport Scotland prior to taking on a full project delivery role.
The £2 million contract enables BAM Nuttall to further develop designs of the railway route, including bridges, tunnels and stations.
Network Rail will also proceed with ground stabilisation works in the Midlothian section of the route where remediation of former mine works is required.
The contract includes an option to continue into the delivery phase once design is completed. While the preparatory works are under way, Network Rail continues to work with Transport Scotland with a view to taking on the delivery of the project.
David Simpson, route managing director, Network Rail Scotland, commented:
“Network Rail is pleased to be involved with the Borders Railway and this contract to deliver the design phase takes us and the Scottish Government one step closer to re-establishing a railway to the Scottish Borders.”
The Borders Railway will reconnect the heart of the Scottish Borders to the railway network for the first time in over 40 years.
Travelling through Midlothian, the project will see seven new stations delivered along the 35 mile route -four in Midlothian and three in the Scottish Borders.
“The Borders Railway will reconnect the heart of the Scottish Borders to the railway network for the first time in over 40 years.”
Fantastic, but what a huge mistake that the Waverley Route was ever killed in the first place. What a travesty that for over 40 years the Borders have been denied a rail service. And how many more parts of Britain continue still to suffer the effects of the “Beeching” cuts?
This project is not a huge step forward. Merely a step back towards where we would have been, had the mistake not been made.