Project Profile: Dundee Station Redevelopment

The Dundee Station Redevelopment project represents a benchmark in modern UK railway infrastructure renewal. It transformed a dated facility into a passenger-centric, multi-modal transport hub through complex structural engineering over a live rail environment. This profile details the technical specifications and strategic outcomes of this significant urban regeneration scheme.

Project Fact Sheet

Technical Specifications

Structural & Civil Engineering

The redevelopment’s core is a new five-story building constructed over the East Coast Main Line. This required a complex concrete bridge structure to span the tracks, forming the base for the new concourse and the hotel above. A 1,100-tonne structural steel frame was erected using two 600-tonne mobile cranes in a series of carefully planned overnight possessions to minimise disruption to rail services. Phased construction was critical, with a temporary station entrance and ticket hall established on Riverside Drive to maintain continuous passenger operations throughout the project timeline.

Architectural Design & Passenger Flow

The design, a collaboration between Jacobs and Nicoll Russell Studios, features a triple-height arched concourse as a new gateway to the city. Frameless structural glazing maximises natural light, creating a modern and welcoming passenger environment. The integration of two escalators and a lift ensures full accessibility compliance with modern standards. The upper floors accommodate a 120-bed hotel, seamlessly integrating commercial and transport functions within a single footprint.

Systems & Amenities

The new concourse is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger information systems (PIS), modern ticketing facilities, and integrated retail and restaurant units. The project also delivered expanded ancillary facilities, including a secure cycle storage facility for 120 bicycles and a dedicated short-stay car park, enhancing the station’s role as a multi-modal hub.

Key Takeaways

• Successful Mixed-Use Integration: The project serves as a prime example of integrating public transport infrastructure with private commercial development (a 120-bed hotel and retail units), creating a financially sustainable asset and a vibrant public space.
• Benchmark for Live Environment Construction: The successful erection of a 1,100-tonne steel frame and concrete structure over active railway lines demonstrates a best-practice methodology for delivering complex infrastructure upgrades with minimal disruption to operational services.
• Catalyst for Urban Regeneration: The station’s striking modern design has become an architectural landmark for Dundee’s waterfront regeneration, enhancing the city’s gateway and stimulating wider economic development in the surrounding area.

FAQ

When did the new Dundee Station open?

The redeveloped Dundee Station was completed and officially opened to the public in July 2018.

Who built the new Dundee Station?

The main contractor for the Dundee Station redevelopment was Balfour Beatty. The architectural and engineering design was delivered by a partnership between Jacobs and Nicoll Russell Studios.