August News!

August has finally seen the return of most SVM staff to office working.  As a key supplier to essential railway services, we are glad to be able to have everyone together to enhance productivity through the efficiency that can only come from working together in a shared environment.  After lengthy risk assessments, modifications and consultation with all staff, we are now able to work together in the same space as a team again.  Social distancing, installation of hand sanitiser points, and a rigorous cleaning schedule have all been part of the measures taken to make sure that every member of SVM staff are safe and feel comfortable being in the office together.

While the work never stopped during the ‘home-working’ months, there are still a lot of new projects appearing in August, including heating and ventilation works at Edinburgh Waverley station; some Railway design in Perth and sewage remediation works in the Stirling area.  Our input has been requested on some rewiring works at Motherwell Signalling Centre while we’ve also looked at some canopy design in Arbroath and another AFA scheme at Carstairs.  Moving around the country we have become involved in some works at Aberdeen Clayhills Signalling Centre and to the South, a 650V feeders renewal scheme in the Middlesbrough and Whitehouse areas.  Finally, in the commercial sector, we have been included on the design team for a large residential property in Castle Douglas which dates back to 1883 and promises to be an interesting and exciting trip back to the Victorian era. 

Back in the present, there are still several ongoing projects, the most pressing of which include a selection of stations in the London area; design works at Reston and East Linton; extensive design at Goole swing bridge; and stations on the Rugeley to Colwich line. 

Waverley Station, as always, keeps us busy with various projects including design at the passenger management centre, toilets, concourse lighting and IECC; while staff accommodation works at Ayr Station, design at Motherwell Station and Yoker Depot gantries are all progressing well.  Extensive projects covering the signalling feeders at Glasgow North and Edinburgh Recontrol are well underway as is design for a rail freight yard in the East End of Glasgow, design at Birmingham Station and footbridge design near Cleethorpes.  Projects in their later stages include the refurbishment project at Aberdeen Station, Highland Mainline and HEP East works.  Away from the Railway we are still looking at the common water supplies for a site in Bearsden; look forward to beginning  works as part of an HV/LV rectification scheme for a military site and are continuing with works related to the Glasgow Clyde Tidal Weir.

While we have never really been away, it is still great to be back together in the office.  We will continue to follow all Government guidance to ensure that every member of SVM is as safe as they can possibly be – as we have always done.  We hope that all our clients and collaborators are managing to successfully navigate these uncertain waters and we are looking forward to all our future endeavours.