September News!

Unbelievably, 2020 is now about to head into its final quarter and progress back to normality continues to be precarious as spikes in COVID-19 cases rise in multiple places across the country.  Due to the changing situation in Glasgow and differing semi lockdown rules in the local area, the decision has been taken to not have the SVM office fully staffed at all times.  Instead we are working on a staggered shift pattern which allows for a much lower number of staff to be in the office at any one time but still being present for a few days every week.  Never fear though for all staff will still be working from home when not working in the office and will still be available to provide the excellent service that our clients expect. 

This month we are happy to begin looking at some monitoring and telecoms works at Newcraighall and Brunstane; a fuel dispensing project at a major Glasgow Depot; and electrical design at a station in Perthshire.  We are also at the tendering and pricing stages for multiple projects which include further 650 renewals for the railway and smaller Railway buildings works across the country.  In the commercial sector we have been asked to look at an office development in Aberdeen for which we have provided design advice in the past. 

September sees many projects both big and small making healthy progress; the largest of which being extensive design at Goole swing bridge; stations on the Rugeley to Colwich line; signalling feeders at Glasgow North; and Edinburgh Recontrol.  Projects currently in their early stages this moth include heating and ventilation works at Edinburgh Waverley station; effluent remediation works in the Stirling area; rewiring works at Motherwell Signalling Centre;  canopy design in Arbroath and another AFA scheme at Carstairs.  Meanwhile projects reaching their completion or completion of the current phase cover a selection of stations in the London area; design works at Reston; East Linton; footbridge design near Cleethorpes; Aberdeen Station, Highland Mainline and HEP East works.  This leaves several more schemes in full swing this month, especially works at Aberdeen Clayhills Signalling Centre, a 650V feeders renewal scheme in the Middlesbrough and Whitehouse areas; staff accommodation works at Ayr Station; design at Motherwell Station; a rail freight yard in the East End of Glasgow and design at Birmingham Station.  Non railway works in September encompass design for a large, Victorian residential property in Castle Douglas, common water supplies for a site in Bearsden and continuing design advice for Glasgow Clyde Tidal Weir, which has entered the construction phase of works.  

It's a completely unprecedented time and the situation is constantly changing meaning that SVM are committed to changing in line with all new guidance and legislation in order to keep our staff, clients and collaborators safe.  One further change that will be occurring from Monday 21st September is that SVM’s office hours will be changing from 8.45am - 5.30pm to 8.30am-5.00pm with the same finishing time of 4pm on a Friday.  This should bring us more in line with the industry as a whole and will still allow us to maintain our high levels of service.  If you feel like you are capable of meeting SVM’s first-rate standards and you have Railway EP Design experience then please submit your CV to elise.mclean@svm-glasgow.co.uk to find your place in the team.