Work on £8m redevelopment of Aberdeen station to start this year

ScotRail has announced that an £8 million redevelopment of Aberdeen railway station will begin later this year.

The project will see significant changes to the look and feel of the station, which is more than 150 years old.

The operator says that Morrison Construction will deliver the work, including:

• Improvements to the taxi rank area and enhanced cycle parking
• Relocation of the existing ticket office and first class lounge to create additional retail areas
• Improved visibility of the ticket office
• Improved station entrance and connectivity with Union Square and Aberdeen city centre
• Redevelopment of staff accommodation and additional operational staff areas
• Works to enhance the listed station building in partnership with the Railway Heritage Trust

Contractors will begin work on the site when it is safe to do so, following the coronavirus pandemic.

The project will be completed in stages, with work on the station redevelopment expected to take around one year to complete.

Kirsty Devlin, ScotRail head of projects, said: "The redevelopment of Aberdeen station will see significant enhancements in retail, improved access to the station, a new ticket office, and new first class lounge.

"The investment we are making in the north-east – in the redevelopment of Aberdeen station, the Aberdeen to Inverness improvement programme, and in Inter7City trains connecting Scotland’s seven cities – means it’s an exciting time for this part of the country."

Bill Reeve, Transport Scotland’s director of rail, said: "While our immediate focus is on tackling the Covid-19 outbreak, the development work for this £8m investment can be undertaken safely now, so that we will be ready to deliver the enhanced facilities for customers and railway staff without delay when it is safe to do so. 

"We know the more we make rail an attractive, safe and secure transport choice, the more people will consider using the train as an alternative to the car. I look forward to seeing further progress as soon as conditions allow."

Mike Bruce, managing director of Morrison Construction North East, said: "Morrison Construction is pleased to have been chosen to carry out these works which will benefit visitors to and the people of the north-east of Scotland for years to come."