We started a £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’s world-famous, particularly after its appearances in the Harry Potter films.
It’s also part of the operational railway. It’s Scotland’s longest mass concrete rail bridge, spanning 1,000ft, with 21 arches – and carries daily ScotRail services and Jacobite Steam Train services from Fort William to Mallaig.
So it needs essential maintenance and specialist care. That’s why we’re working with contractor AmcoGiffen to repair the concrete. We’ll also improve the ground under the track to help keep the ballast – the stones on the track bed – in place.
Plus we’ll repair the pier that sits on the River Finnan while we’re at it.
Laura Craig, a scheme project manager at Network Rail, said: “Years of planning have gone into this project. The work will not have a massive visual impact on the way the viaduct looks and that’s very deliberate, with it being grade A listed.”
An innovative rope access system
In fact, we won’t use any scaffolding. Instead, we’ll 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’s not the first time we’ve used this system. We used it to repair the Royal Border Bridge in Berwick-upon-Tweed last June – leading to a saving of about £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’s taken several years of careful planning.
Passengers services end at night so we’ll use this time to repair the track.
We’re always looking for innovative and better ways of working – and our work at Glenfinnan is an important part of giving you a railway that’s better value for money.
