Opening of new station delayed by two months

THE opening of Dundee’s new railway station entrance has been delayed due to the collapse of a sub-contractor working on the site.

A report to be reviewed by the city council’s policy and resources committee next week has revised the completion date of the building to May — two months later than planned.

Gregory Colgan, the authority’s executive director of corporate services, said this was largely due to the collapse of the Scottish Electric Group.

The contracting company, based at the Technology Park, had been carrying out work at the station on behalf of project leaders Balfour Beatty.

However, the firm was wound up in August, with 99 staff losing their jobs, including several apprentices part-way through getting qualifications.

Balfour Beatty has previously rejected multiple requests for comment on whether the firm’s collapse would affect the train station work.

Today’s news is the first such indication of the “complex” project being delayed again.

Last year, city development convener Lynne Short revealed to the Tele that an opening date of March for the railway station had been outlined.

The council had hoped to open the new facility in December last year, but had pushed the date back due to complications in construction and working around Network Rail.

A spokesman for the authority said it was working closely with Balfour Beatty to prevent any further hold-ups in the station’s construction.

He said: “The council and main contractor Balfour Beatty have been working closely to try to minimise any delays in the completion of the work at the railway station concourse.

“This is a complex build, over a busy railway line on a constrained site which has meant a number of issues have affected progress.”

The adjoining Sleeperz hotel had also been targeted for a pre-summer season opening and, as of yet, it is unknown if it has been affected by the Scottish Electric Group’s closure.

Sleeperz did not respond to requests for comment today.

However, Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick, who visited the site last week, said work was “progressing well”.

Balfour Beatty was approached for comment but had not responded at the time of going to press. Ourvoice PAGE 16