BAM wins railway contract

Dutch-based BAM has been appointed as principal contractor for the £170 million (€231.1 million) upgrade of the Aberdeen to Inverness railway line in Scotland.

The first phase of the Scottish government-funded project is due for completion by 2019. It includes double-tracking 16 miles of line between Aberdeen and Inverurie, building a new station at Forres, extending platforms at Insch and Elgin to accommodate longer trains, upgrading signalling systems, and installing infrastructure to allow new stations to be built at Dalcross and Kintore.

Engineers are currently carrying out ground investigation, site survey and vegetation clearance works on the line, and main construction will begin in the spring of 2016, the company said.

Jerry Dickson, framework director for BAM, said, “This essential programme of works will improve connectivity between the major cities of Aberdeen and Inverness, with wider enhancements for the local communities in the north of Scotland.

“We are particularly proud to have been awarded this contract in our 150th anniversary year, which has also seen BAM and Network Rail successfully re-open the Borders Railway, which is now providing an essential rail link between Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders.”