The huge £8 million redevelopment of Aberdeen railway station has taken place over two years and was delivered by Morrison Construction.

The final stage of the vast project saw the relocation and refurbishment of both the ticket office and first-class lounge to the main concourse which will bring improvements in customer experience.

The ticket office and first-class lounge can be used by ScotRail, LNER and Caledonian Sleeper customers and will complement the station’s brand-new high-value retail space. The existing concourse retail units have also undergone refurbishment and feature contemporary glazed areas to the front of the units as part of the project.

The project has been funded by the Scottish government, ScotRail, Network Rail, the Railway Heritage Trust and Serco and has seen substantial alterations made to the city centre station which is over 150 years old.

Aberdeen railway station now features four new customer information screens on the main concourse where members of the ScotRail team will be on hand to offer advice to passengers regarding train services, travel times and connections via a designated information booth. 

The station has also seen changes made to support an anticipated growth in passenger numbers moving into the future including staff accommodation and further operation areas. 

ScotRail has worked together with the Railway Heritage Trust in order to complete the restoration of the significant A listing North Corner Pavilion Building which provides a connection to the golden age of rail and of the days when steam locomotives had fallen into disrepair.

The restoration of the pavilion saw a fully sympathetic approach with great care to match the original building. Some pre-existing materials were reused alongside the solid granite treads in the Guild Street entrance which were removed before being modified and used for the new stairs.

Improvements have also been made to the station’s entrance creating better connections with Union Square and Aberdeen city centre and now sees brand new illuminated signage building the station’s identity as part of Union Square.

The taxi rank area has also seen improvements including enhanced cycle parking for as many as 88 bikes under a covered area in the car park and also features a Cycle Point maintenance area.

Network Rail Scotland also completed the replacement of Aberdeen station’s glass roof which has been ongoing since 2020.  

Jenny Gilruth, Minister for Transport said: “It’s great to be here today to see at first-hand how the Scottish Government’s £6m contribution is helping people travelling to and from Aberdeen make full use of the upgraded Aberdeen Station. I’d like to thank all the partners involved in this project which shows how transformational change can be delivered collectively.    

“At a time when we seek to encourage more people out of their cars onto rail, this project is an excellent example of the way in which the public sector and the industry can build a modern railway that is more attractive to existing and potential passengers.” 

Alex Hynes, Managing Director of Scotland’s Railway, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to see the redevelopment of Aberdeen station now complete and officially open.  

“Our engineers, contractors, project and station teams have done an excellent job in delivering better facilities for customers and railway staff, which have helped modernise this historic and iconic station.   

“We know the more we make rail an attractive, safe, and secure transport choice, the more people will consider using the train as an alternative to the car. This investment is a key part of our plan to deliver a more modern railway for Scotland as we continue to encourage more customers back after the pandemic.”   

Russell Borthwick, Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive, said: “This investment in the facilities at Aberdeen station is very welcome, creating a more fitting experience for passengers arriving in and departing from our city. 

“The next challenge is to ensure that more people are using the facilities because they are choosing to travel by rail. For that to happen we need to ensure that connections to and from Aberdeen are fast, regular and dependable. 

“And we are looking forward to engaging further in the study examining a freight and passenger railway re-connecting Aberdeen with Ellon, Peterhead, and Fraserburgh via Dyce”.  

Mike Bruce, Managing Director of Morrison Construction North East, said: “Our team has worked incredibly hard on the historic Aberdeen station project and we are delighted to hand it over to ScotRail.  

“We are pleased that these works will benefit visitors and people in the North East of Scotland for future generations to come.” 

Councillor John Crawley, chair of Nestrans, said:  “I am very pleased to see the redevelopment completed and opened today. As one of the busiest stations in the northeast, and Scotland, it plays an important role in welcoming people to Aberdeen, and onward as part of their journey.  

“The developments enhance the station’s role of making passengers feel comfortable, informed and confident in their travel.” 

Claire Ansley, LNER Director of People and Customer Experience, said: “The new first-class lounge is an excellent addition to Aberdeen station, and I am delighted that LNER customers will be able to make use of this enhanced space to work or relax.  

“The lounge has elevated views of the station and is a brilliant example of how working with ScotRail, we can both further improve the customer experience.”