Over a 12 month period works were carried out to replace the existing Georgian wired glazing system in the station concourse and all station canopies with 10,000 new TwinFix polycarbonate glazing panels.
Aberdeen station is a Category A listed building located in the centre of Aberdeen city. The existing concourse is comprised of a series of riveted plate and angle trusses with Georgian wired glazing, a mansafe access system and is partially supported by the station building and riveted plate and angle steelwork columns. The canopy structures throughout the station cover the platforms and comprise of steelwork trusses, with Georgian wired glass, supported on cast iron columns with decorative dagger boards on their edges.
Water had penetrated the existing roof fabric creating slip hazards and property damage. The glazing panels cracked and failed regularly, and in some cases had fallen onto the platform below. Rainwater downpipes were leaking where they connected into the drainage hoppers in the column heads, and throttling of flow through the hoppers and internal column downpipes was leading to water ingress above the column heads, leading to severe corrosion in many areas of the steelwork.
10,000
glazing panels removed and replaced
1800m
of guttering and verge re-lined and waterproofed
Story Contracting were tasked with replacing the existing Georgian wired glazing to the station concourse and all station canopies with 10,000 new TwinFix polycarbonate glazing panels. The works also included:
• Erection of crash deck scaffolding system to facilitate the project works
• Refurbishment to the Platform 7 North canopy
• 1800m of guttering and verge deck relined with application of new paint on system
• Waterproofing of flat roof areas with liquid plastic system
• Painting works and condition-led steel repairs
• Carrying out the works without affecting the operational railway or the 8,000 daily commuters.
Works were phased in order to limit the impact on station users. Story site management worked in collaboration with station management to ensure that all parties were happy with the way in which the works were progressing on a regular basis.
This enabled the works to be carried out safely, on budget and to programme, without impacting the day-to-day operation of the station.
The main concourse is 30m wide by 75m long and covered by 2400 pitched single pane Georgian wire panels and accepts approx. 3m passengers annually. The challenge for Story was how we could safely access the works at height to carry out the glazing replacement and have as little impact as possible on the daily operation of the station and passengers.
This was achieved by utilising an innovative rolling access platform supported on towers and spine beams. This allowed access to one third of the main concourse roof from below and whilst still being open enough to allow unrestricted passenger movements and plenty of natural light compared to a bird cage scaffold system.
Another benefit to the system was that it could be rolled along the spine beam into the next phase saving time and allowing the works to progress quicker and more safely due to the need for less dismantling and erecting phases.
Network Rail
The project involved regrading approximately 280 metres of the embankment to enhance structural stability and improve rail safety.