REASSURANCE HAS BEEN GIVEN that issues with the new rail bridge built as part of the Forres Station development will not hold up the opening of the new line next week.
A new bridge lowered into place over the Mosset Burn in Forres has been found to be slightly out of alignment with the new rail track.
Currently all rail services between Inverness and Keith are suspended as part of the final stages in the multi-million pound development that will see the new station in Forres, new track all along the line and major changes to the system in Elgin.
Fears were being expressed that the problems with the new bridge might cause the scheduled return of rail services to be put back – however, a spokesman for Bam Nuttall, the contractors tasked with delivering the new line, has given assurance that should not be the case.
He said: “The new double-track bridge over the Mosset Burn has been designed in a way that it can be installed quickly. It is made of four main components – two large pre-cast concrete abutments and two steel decks.
“The simplicity of the design enables the team to make adjustments when ready to link the two new sections of double track to the east and west. As part of the contingency plan, crane equipment was kept available to make these adjustments.
“This work will be completed over the next few days and there is no delay to the plan to start train services on the morning of Tuesday, October 17.”