November News!

These strange times continue to follow us through to the end of 2020, with more restrictions and lockdowns disrupting the run up to Christmas.  It is a disheartening time but hopefully the other side of COVID-19 is edging closer every day.  In the meantime, SVM will soldier on with every intention of providing the best possible service.  

New projects continue to flood in through November both for Railway and Commercial sectors.  We have been asked to undertake further phases of work at Ayr Station; look at mechanical issues on some departure roads at Corkerhill Depot; and return to Inverness Motorail sidings for some further design works following our previous involvement at the site.  This has also been a busy month off the railway with new projects involving electrical works at Glasgow’s Bell’s Bridge; an industrial site on the east side of Glasgow; and investigation into electrical issues at a residential property in Glasgow’s West End.  As well as these, offering a complete and interesting change of pace, we are looking at mechanical issues for a leisure centre in Alloa and providing advice for the Clyde Gateway regeneration scheme.  

November has seen some excellent progress on several large scale projects including the construction phase of works at Aberdeen Station; stations on the Rugeley to Colwich line; a 650V feeders renewal scheme in the Middlesbrough and Whitehouse areas; HV/LV design in Inverness; and Edinburgh Recontrol.  Many newer projects are also starting to pick up momentum this month such as lighting gantries in Aberdeen; UPS issues at a signalling site in Motherwell; monitoring and telecoms works at Newcraighall and Brunstane; and mechanical design in the Hambleton area.  Design for the power assisted door at Dumbarton Central station has been well underway this month as has that for Perth Sidings and bollard lighting at a Glasgow depot.  Meanwhile, effluent remediation works in the Stirling area; staff accommodation works at Ayr Station; and a rail freight yard in the East End of Glasgow; are all making good progress while design at a Birmingham Station and the extensive design at Goole swing bridge have reached important milestones this month.  Smaller projects that continue to bubble along in November include signalling feeders at Glasgow North; a fuel dispensing project at a major Glasgow Depot; heating and ventilation works at Edinburgh Waverley station; rewiring works at Motherwell Signalling Centre; canopy design in Arbroath and another AFA scheme at Carstairs.  We are also due to soon begin on large scale works at Portobello Junction one our feet are cleared from these current resource heavy projects.  Stepping once more into the Commercial world, we are continuing to provide design for a large, Victorian residential property in Castle Douglas, and an office development in Aberdeen. 

Working from home continues to be the default position at SVM but one or two people will be manning the office on a daily basis so we are always just a phone call away.  It's going to be a difficult and very different approach to the Christmas season this year – lamentably, the always thoroughly classy SVM Christmas night out will not be happening this year - but we hope that all our clients and collaborators are keeping safe and well and managing to find a little festive cheer wherever we can.