BAM appointed principal contractor for the £170m upgrade of the Aberdeen-Inverness line.

The Scottish Government-funded enhancement will transform journeys on the route introducing a half-hourly commuter service between Aberdeen and Inverurie and additional peak services between Inverness and Elgin.

BAM, which recently completed the on-time, on-budget £294m Borders Railway, will now oversee the delivery of the Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project – the first phase of which is due for completion in 2019.
Over the next four years engineers will:

• Double-track 16 miles of line between Aberdeen and Inverurie
• Build a new station at Forres and straighten the railway alignment
• Extend platforms at Insch and Elgin to accommodate longer trains
• Upgrade signalling systems along the route
• Install infrastructure to allow new stations to be built at Dalcross and Kintore.

Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, said: “I am pleased to witness the award of the contract to BAM for the first phase of the Aberdeen to Inverness Improvement Project.

“Today marks the Scottish Government’s landmark investment package of £170m to improve a key route connecting both northern cities, which will make journeys shorter, more frequent and more comfortable for those who use this important line regularly.

“This project is especially valuable for the region for, as well as the clear benefits to passengers and freight users, it will also support jobs and growth, providing an economic boost to the cities and communities along the entire length of the route.”