October News!

October finds SVM Glasgow as busy as ever with projects covering several different, challenging areas filling up the darkening Autumn days.  This means there’s no doubt that we will be putting that extra hour at the end of the month to excellent use! 

October has seen a lot of new works arising, most notably Wales and Western framework design; works at Canton Depot in Cardiff; Shettleston Depot design; refurbishment of Helmsdale MDU; further VAMOS works at Green Lane; and boiler survey works at Shields Depot.  We have also been instructed to begin various works around EV Chargers at Tradeston and South Gyle; wiring upgrades at Dumfries; a UPS at Huntly; Waverley MOS design; Central DAS; and an emergency lighting condition report at Craigentinny.  We are just getting underway with several projects related to water services at Haymarket CET, Perth Station; and Craigentinny CET; while we eagerly await the green light for rectification works at the WSSC and a feasibility study at Wembley. 

October’s big ongoing treats are headed up by Waverley Lighting design; Forth Bridge relighting works; Clacton wheel lathe; Corkerhill fuel dispensing facility; Stranraer marina expansion; Bellgrove AFA; Fife Circle design; HST platform extensions; Sudbrook pumping station; Dundee Stabling detailed design; Megastream design; 11kV Renewals; and Ayrshire signalling renewals.  We are also kept busy across the country by several projects covering multiple sites including ScotRail depots; CP7 UPS renewals; ECML feeder migration design; Telecoms cable design; and FTNx core refresh works.  Our more ‘contained’ projects also cover the length and breadth of the UK, starting in the North with signalling resilience works in the Aberdeen area; switchgear renewals; sleeper servicing; boiler design; and TMD design all in Inverness; while, close by, there is detailed design in the Dundee to Montrose area; and level crossings at Gartly and Oyne.  In Perth, works related to carriage sidings are about to begin and modernisation works are ongoing.  Coming into the central belt, the main stations at Glasgow and Edinburgh are busy at the former for retail services, heritage migration works, and power alterations for the Caledonia sleeper lounge; and at the latter for lighting control and 5G equipment.  There are welfare works for Haymarket Depot; lighting at Clarkston goods yard; Salkeld St Test Track; design works around Law and Newton on the WCML; AFA temporary works at Cardenden; and design for Cadder wheel lathe.  Also underway are electrical defects design assistance; Dwell migration works at Hyndland; load monitoring at Corkerhill UFW; Yoker Depot CET site support; MELF works at Yoker; and electrical design at Mossend Rail Terminal.  The lighting and power design for a Glasgow subway tunnel has made great strides; as has design for Kilwinning BESS; Eastfield Depot; and design for the Corkerhill Depot apprentice building. Several smaller scale works remain ongoing with Cathcart ECR; Newton Station waiting shelter; and Waverley IECC; while the design for Balgray Station AFA is now complete.  Heading towards the borders we remain active with site support for the previously designed Dumfries tanking works; Heritage migration at Lockerbie station; works at Bowland Junction; and Ayr Station.  In Merry Old England, we are maintaining an excellent presence with works for shore supplies in Stourbridge and Banbury; Clacton Wheel Lathe; Chester Recontrol design; design at Warrington training facility; Pewsey VAMOS; Guildford MDU; and M&E design at Queens Park Station, which is now underway.  We have made a good start on signalling recontrol works near Cheshire; while we are nearing completion on work for Blea Moor Signalling box in the wilds of Yorkshire. 

This month’s commercial projects remain healthy with works at a new healthcare facility near Edinburgh, and an initial look at electrical and lighting installations for a foil manufacturing facility.  Stranraer Marina expansion is ongoing, with further works currently getting underway, and we also remain involved with upgrades to a materials shed at one of our client’s premises; office refurbishments in Annan and Garscadden; and ongoing works at an organic waste recycling plant in the Glasgow area. 

We are approaching the beginning of the party season with the IRSE dinner being a big circle on the calendar for next month.  Once again SVM will be taking two tables at this event, which remains the largest annual rail industry event in Scotland, typically attracting over 350 attendees.  We look forward to welcoming our esteemed guests to an educational and civilised evening!  Also deserving of a welcome this month is Alister McCabe who has joined SVM as a site engineer, assisting with surveys across the country.  We wish Alister all the best for his time with SVM and are delighted to have him as part of the team.