Success for Aberdeen station at National Railway Heritage Awards

ScotRail is celebrating success after winning a top award at the National Railway Heritage Awards 2022. 

The Arch Company Award for Urban Heritage recognises the success of a train operator in ensuring high quality upkeep and enhancement of the environment of a significant urban station within its care, while continuing the historic ambience consistent with modern passenger requirements. 

ScotRail scooped the award for its restoration of the North Corner Pavilion Building at Aberdeen station, part of the station’s recently complete redevelopment. 

The train operator worked in partnership with the Railway Heritage Trust to restore the North Corner Pavilion Building – a significant A-listed building and a link to the classic age of rail and the days of steam locomotives – which had fallen into disrepair.  

Repair work was sympathetic in order to keep the look of the pavilion as close as possible to that of the original building. Some pre-existing materials were recycled and the solid granite treads in the Guild Street entrance were removed and modified in order to use the granite for the new stairs.  

The original station was built in 1867, but construction of the building now on the site began in 1913 and was completed after the First World War. It’s thought that the North and South pavilions were added around 1920. 

The recently complete redevelopment of Aberdeen station was officially opened by Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth on Monday, 5 December. 

The National Railway Heritage Awards have been presented annually since 1979 and were granted charitable status in 2004. The Awards celebrate the careful restoration of buildings, structures, and signalling installations which promote the UK’s historic railway and tramway heritage. 

Kirsty Devlin, ScotRail Head of Projects & PMO, said: “I’m delighted that Aberdeen station’s North Corner Pavilion restoration has been recognised at the National Railway Heritage Awards 2022. 

“This project presented a wonderful opportunity to restore an important building, which is part of the heritage of Aberdeen, for future generations. 

“Throughout the project, we worked in close partnership with the Railway Heritage Trust, our architects, Austin-Smith:Lord, our contractors, Morrison Construction, the city council, and Network Rail to make sure the North Corner Pavilion can be enjoyed for many more years to come.”

Photo credit: ScotRail

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