December News!

Deck the halls with boughs of holly because Christmas is almost upon us once again.  2022 has gone by in a flash and has been another big year for SVM, with new challenges and clients all setting us up for an even bigger 2023. 

The last minute Christmas rush has seen new projects squeezing themselves into 2022 including further works at Cadder Yard, this time involving the substation; and design at Ayr Station’s booking office.  There has also been a flurry of fees this month which will hopefully set up 2023 to start with a bang and these covered a variety of works such as large scale LED design for the Railway; more AFA works at station sites; and, in a welcome change of pace, lighting for a heliport! 

Meanwhile, our ongoing projects causing the biggest bulges in Santa’s sack include Bangor to Colwyn Bay design; Goole Swing Bridge (now entering GRIP 6 to 8 stages); separate designs for the Rugeley to Colwich and Welwyn to Hitchin Railway routes; Anderston and Glasgow Central Low Level stations; and large scale works for the Ferrybridge to Goole route.  Heading Southwards from the North Pole, we remain involved in works on the Blair Atholl to Dalwhinnie route; the Dalcross GRIP 4 project; construction phase works and frost protection at Aberdeen Station; and several projects in Inverness including a welder’s yard, work stations and axle counters; and a railway simulator.  Closer to home, across the central belt, we remain very busy with LLPA design for multiple Railway sites in the Glasgow area; genset works at Atrium court, CET design at Craigentinny Depot; and design for executive suites in some nearby Glasgow Railway offices.  The main hub stations in Glasgow and Edinburgh are continuing to provide works including design advice for power supplies; lighting DB design; work on the ScotRail simulators; retail supplies; retail units design; fluid dispensing works; ventilation; and design for Superloos; while the Edinburgh area is also still home to works for the Control Centre Renewals and Millerhill Sidings.  Depots in this area continue to be just as busy as the stations, with works including accommodation design; LMD CETs; departure roads, drainage, office HVAC; and points converters; while, nearby, we remain involved with CRE duties for works at Millerhill and Heaton Depots, and boiler replacement in Motherwell.  Glasgow remains as popular as its East Coast cousin with ongoing works ranging across design assistance with the DHL at Cadder; Cathcart platform lighting; Carstairs Rationalisation; Port Glasgow, Johnston and Croy AFA projects; and ticket vending machine design across multiple sites.  Heading a little further South, works gaining momentum include new station refurbishment works at Troon station; design works in the Carlisle area and remedial works at several West Coast Stations, while we are reaching completion on works at Saltcoats station waiting area.  Moving even further into the deep South East of England, there are some new works getting well underway for a scheme involving some compact PSPs; lighting at Hessle Station; and a subway pump in Goole; while we remain reactive on long standing projects at Birmingham and Euston Stations. design near Widnes; additional design for London to Corby; and shed extension works in Tysley 

Away from the Railway, this Christmas also sees us delivering to the commercial sector with design works underway at a farmhouse in Johnston; an office refurbishment in Kilsyth and a biomass site in Portree.  We have undertaken preparatory works for a potential scheme across several Scottish lighthouses; while we are approaching the end of works related to the ash lagoons in Valleyfield created following the closure of Longannet Power Station in 2016. 

We were delighted to reinstate the SVM Christmas lunch properly this year – despite the added snag of striking trains!  A great day was had by all with some Teppanyaki and light refreshments afterwards.  This year the office will be open up to Friday 23rd of December and we will all return on Wednesday 4th January 2023.  It will be a big year next year, so if you want to get involved with the SVM team - and you already have Railway based electrical and mechanical design experience in a consultancy/contractor setting – then please send your CV and covering letter to elise.mclean@svm-glasgow.co.uk – Christmas glitter is optional!  Finally all that remains is for us to once again thank all of our clients and collaborators for another great year and we hope that you all have a safe and Merry Christmas and Happy and prosperous New Year.