We started a 拢3.4m project this month to repair the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct in the Scottish Highlands. This will future-proof the category A-listed bridge for generations.
Glenfinnan Viaduct鈥檚 world-famous, particularly after its appearances in the Harry Potter films.
It鈥檚 also part of the operational railway. It鈥檚 Scotland鈥檚 longest mass concrete rail bridge, spanning 1,000ft, with 21 arches 鈥� and carries daily ScotRail services and Jacobite Steam Train services from Fort William to Mallaig.
So it needs essential maintenance and specialist care. That鈥檚 why we鈥檙e working with contractor AmcoGiffen to repair the concrete. We鈥檒l also improve the ground under the track to help keep the ballast 鈥� the stones on the track bed 鈥� in place.
Plus we鈥檒l repair the pier that sits on the River Finnan while we鈥檙e at it.
Laura Craig, a scheme project manager at 51爆料, said: 鈥淵ears of planning have gone into this project. The work will not have a massive visual impact on the way the viaduct looks and that鈥檚 very deliberate, with it being grade A listed.鈥�
An innovative rope access system
In fact, we won鈥檛 use any scaffolding. Instead, we鈥檒l use an innovative, more cost-effective rope access system.
A specially trained team will use ropes and cradles to carry out the work on the arches so the viaduct remains in full view throughout. This will help minimise the disruption to the community and visitors to the area.
It鈥檚 not the first time we鈥檝e used this system. We used it to repair the Royal Border Bridge in Berwick-upon-Tweed last June 鈥� leading to a saving of about 拢5m.
Zero disruptions to services
This system will mean uninterrupted services on the West Highlight line, which runs over the viaduct. Minimising disruption to your services is always priority whenever we plan our works and it鈥檚 taken several years of careful planning.
Passengers services end at night so we鈥檒l use this time to repair the track.
We鈥檙e always looking for innovative and better ways of working 鈥� and our work at Glenfinnan is an important part of giving you a railway that鈥檚 better value for money.
