Network Rail has announced work will soon begin on a 14-month investment programme at Stirling station.

The £3m project will upgrade and replace the glass roof and install safe access for future maintenance on the listed building.

Existing glass panels, which are prone to cracking and discolouration, will be replaced with a modern light-weight polycarbonate glazing system.

A non-intrusive roof access system will also be installed.

Lack of access to the roof led to deterioration of the structure due to corrosion, damp, vegetation growth and pigeon droppings.

A similar polycarbonate glazing system has also been used at the new Haymarket Station in Edinburgh.

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In addition to improving the stations environment, the work will safeguard the listed building by making the roof watertight and improving the guttering and drainage.

All timber and metal work will be cleaned and painted to further improve the final appearance of the station when work is completed in November 2016.

Bruce Crawford, MSP for Stirling, said: "I welcome this investment in Stirling station and it’s good to see work getting started. As well as looking forward to improved services and faster journey times on routes to Glasgow and Edinburgh being enabled by electrification, it is important that there is also work being done to improve the stations."

Phil Verster, Managing Director of the ScotRail Alliance: "Investing in Stirling station will protect and preserve the building’s unique appearance and character while at the same time delivering a safer, brighter more comfortable station environment which will protect our customers from the vagaries of Scotland's weather."

Work will begin to install the 2,440 sqm polycarbonate glazed roof on 17 August.

It will be delivered in phases to minimise the impact on the operation of the station and hoardings will be in place throughout to physically separate the work from public areas in the station.

(LM)