Repairs to viaduct made famous by Harry Potter complete after £3.4m project
Repairs to the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct made famous by the Harry Potter movie franchise have been completed as part of a £3.4m restoration project.
The popular tourist attraction in the Highlands, made famous worldwide by the Potter films, has undergone an extensive maintenance programme to safeguard its future.
Network Rail has carried out concrete repairs across the structure sympathetically, taking care to replicate its heritage appearance.
New safety handrails for staff working at height were installed, along with renewing ballast retention systems at the ends of the structure.
Engineers also worked in the River Finnan, protecting the piers from erosion caused by the fast-flowing river. Network Rail Specially trained rope access technicians descended from the viaduct, reaching and restoring areas that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Meanwhile, specially trained rope access technicians descended from the viaduct, reaching and restoring areas that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Laura Craig, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said: 'This project was years in planning due to the complexity of navigating such a large-scale, historic structure.
'Our highly skilled team faced numerous challenges, from preserving the viaduct's original integrity to implementing modern engineering solutions.
'Every step of the process required meticulous attention to detail and a deep respect for its heritage.
'It's an honour to look after the Glenfinnan Viaduct, knowing how much it's loved all over the world. We're proud to see it standing strong and it's a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved.'
The viaduct opened in 1901 and is the largest mass concrete viaduct in Scotland, spanning more than 1,000 feet. The build cost £18,904 at the time.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has designated the structure as category A, the highest level, meaning it's of significant architectural and historical interest. Network Rail The viaduct opened in 1901 and is the largest mass concrete viaduct in Scotland.
As part of its preservation, Network Rail refrains from cleaning off efflorescence marks from the rain as it drains through, ensuring the character of the structure remains.
Ann MacSween, head of planning, consents and advice services at HES, said: 'We welcome Network Rail's investment into the careful repair of this iconic structure.
'Glenfinnan is the most impressive of several mass concrete railway viaducts and bridges along the West Highland Line, which was built 1897-1901. These bridges were mostly designed with an exposed concrete finish, rather than being faced in stone, and are the earliest railway bridges of this style in Scotland.
'Over a century after it was first built, Glenfinnan Viaduct still stands strong today, in no small part due to Network Rail's excellent care.'
Thousands of visitors every year pass over the arches aboard ScotRail trains and the 'Hogwarts Express' Jacobite steam train operated by West Coast Railways.
James Shuttleworth, West Coast Railways' Commercial Manager, added: 'Having run 'The Jacobite' for over three decades and celebrated its centenary in 2001, we truly appreciate the historic significance of the viaduct.
'The recent restoration work has further highlighted its importance, not only as a vital piece of railway heritage, but also as a beloved film star in Harry Potter, for which we proudly provided 'The Hogwarts Express.'
The restoration of the viaduct is part of a broader programme of work in the Glenfinnan area as part of a two-year pilot project to enhance the natural habitat.
The initiative includes planting trees across approximately 200 hectares to protect, restore and expand rainforest and peatland habitats.
Additionally, deer fencing has been installed at Ardmolich to safeguard the newly planted native woodlands from overgrazing.
Network Rail is also investing £500,000 to renew over five kilometres of lineside fencing near the viaduct.
The project aims to replace life-expired boundary fencing, ensuring the track remains safely separated from public areas.
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Telegraph
Why Cambridge's £75m tourism revamp risks stripping the city of its charm
Souvenirs. Harry Potter. Vapes. Perhaps too simple a summation of the modern-day experience of Cambridge city centre, but it is certainly how the Cambridge Gift Shop on Market Passage has found success, as detailed by its hanging sign. Inside, shoppers, some independent, some clearly part of an organised trip, peruse trinkets and tat, University swag and Union Jacked future landfill. Within a stone's throw are similar stores: the House of Wonders, the House of Wizard… It is just before lunch on a Bank Holiday Monday and the city, small by modern standards with the population just 146,000 (Slough has 166,000), strains under the weight of daily visitors. By most recent estimations, Cambridge welcomes some 8.1 million visitors a year, or just over 22,000 a day. The city itself is 16 square miles but there's no escaping the fact that these tens of thousands do not stray far from a handful of streets. St John's Street into Trinity and onto Kings Parade is the classic drag. To walk the length is to navigate scores of meandering walking tours, student groups and oblivious selfie-takers, not to mention Cambridge's famed bicycle traffic, e-scooters and occasional hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses. But it is also Cambridge's appeal in a nutshell. Once you've reached the bottom, you've seen the city in microcosm: the up-market shopping of Trinity Street – Reiss, Cubitts, Sweaty Betty – dotted with the academic, Cambridge's famed Heffers bookshop and the more inaccessible University Press shop further down. The strip is punctuated, too, with some of the University's most impressive colleges (Trinity College, founded by Henry VIII, boasts a Great Gate akin to a time-travel portal in its medieval splendour). By the time you're outside King's Parade and its peerless skyline you may as well go home. Indeed, many do. 'The problem for Cambridge tourism is that we don't provide proper advice and information for tourists,' says Naomi Bennett, a Green Party councillor on the Labour-run Cambridge City Council. 'The people only come here for short day trips. They spend a few hours in a tiny and crowded historic centre and rush off to catch their coach or train home.' Over-tourism in the city is reaching boiling point. From aggressive and very public Punt Wars – where rival touts employed unsavoury tactics to win passing business – to coach jams on the Backs and a failed tourist tax, which hotels voted against last year, Cambridge has wrestled with the same challenges as the likes of Venice, Edinburgh and Dubrovnik. The city is at a crossroads. While there's no sign of the council's long-awaited and long-overdue Destination Management Plan, the city is pushing ahead with its £75million Civic Quarter Project, revitalising three key areas: the Guildhall, the Corn Exchange and the Market Square. The council says the plan is 'to improve the experience of everyone visiting the city centre by creating more inclusive and accessible buildings, and better public spaces where people can meet and enjoy cultural events', but locals are concerned revamping – but reducing – the seven-day market area will see Cambridge lose some of its charm. Amid doubts about the plans, the architect behind the project, Cartwright Pickard, last year told a council meeting that the area would not be turned into a 'modern monstrosity'. Some of the area used for stalls will become an event space, though in the latest iteration of the plans, released in May, the council scrapped a proposal to turn the Guildhall into a hotel after a tepid reaction during consultations. 'The character could be lost for good,' says Glenys Self, a jewellery trader on the market. 'The developers don't understand the value of what they have here. The new market is not traditional. We need to preserve it. A way of life is disappearing.' Glenys, who has been on the market for 20 years, says her stall is popular with tourists but has survived through the support of loyal locals. She is concerned the new plans favour tourist-focused weekend traders, leaving the square empty Monday to Thursday. 'It's becoming a playground for tourists,' she says. Another trader, Tom Wells, is also concerned the revamp will prioritise the needs of tourists over locals, with 'more hot food stalls' replacing other wares. 'We see people take stalls for the summer then disappear,' he says. 'They pop up and then they're gone.' He points to the absence of a plaque celebrating the history of the market, which dates back to the Middle Ages, as a lack of appreciation of its value to the city. Councillor Rosy Moore, Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Environment, says the city is 'not pursuing mass tourism', and that the Civic Quarter Project is about enhancing the city-centre experience and 'investing in our historic civic spaces to ensure they remain relevant, resilient and welcoming for future generations'. There is no mistaking two things: one, the market could do with a refresh, and two: Cambridge still hums with charm and character. Its curious passageways provide that Potter-esque intrigue, academia and the buzz of students is in the air and on its flyer-covered railings, and there are still plenty of cutesy independent shops and restaurants. But it is also easy to see that big business has seen an opportunity and begun the process of homogenisation. Skirting the market square today are the likes of Franco Manca, Five Guys, and the universal signifier of gentrification, Gail's; an American burger outfit, ShakeShack, is opening soon in the opposite corner. It is easy to see, then, how the market, scruffy in a quaint way, must feel like the walls are closing in. In that sense, it is perhaps the last bastion of Cambridge before the tourists arrived; before its city centre was marketed not at those who live here, but those just passing by.
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Glasgow Times
ScotRail: Services hit by delays and cancellations today
A signalling fault was detected in the Newton area this morning and has had a knock-on effect on train services in and around Glasgow. READ MORE: Full list of Glasgow roads facing closures as 2000 people to march through the city READ MORE: Scottish Citylink adds over 4000 seats on busiest routes for summer ScotRail has confirmed that multiple routes are affected, with some services facing cancellations, delays, or last-minute timetable changes. Services Affected Include: Glasgow Central to Lanark Glasgow Central to Edinburgh via Shotts Glasgow Central to Edinburgh via Carstairs NEW: We've been advised by Network Rail that they are currently dealing with a signalling fault in the Newton area which is affecting our services. — ScotRail (@ScotRail) June 18, 2025 The train operator has confirmed that Network Rail engineers are on site investigating the issue, but passengers should expect short-notice delays until repairs are completed. In a statement, ScotRail said: "We've been advised by Network Rail that they are currently dealing with a signalling fault in the Newton area which is affecting our services."
Time Out Dubai
3 days ago
- Time Out Dubai
Harry Potter exhibition Abu Dhabi: Dates, ticket prices, venue and more
Wands at the ready – Harry Potter: The Exhibition is heading to the UAE this summer and it's set to be one of the most magical events of the year. Landing at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi on Friday July 25 and staying for a limited time, this is the Middle East debut of the international touring exhibition that's already enchanted more than 3.7 million fans around the world. Whether you're a lifelong Potterhead or new to the wizarding world, the immersive experience is packed with spellbinding moments, iconic props and interactive surprises. The exhibition dives deep into the beloved world of Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts and even The Cursed Child stage production, with meticulously recreated environments, original costumes and dazzling technology that brings Hogwarts to life right before your eyes. Think of it as stepping straight onto the set – only better, because you will actually get to be part of the magic. Expect to stroll through the great hall, brew potions in Snape's classroom, cast a patronus in the Forbidden Forest and see your name pop up on the Marauder's map. Want to know your Hogwarts house? You'll pick it during registration and follow its story through stained-glass windows, have a photo op with the Sorting Hat and have your own personalised Hogwarts journey (don't worry though, you'll still get to see the story of each house). And yes, there's merch – lots of it. From chocolate frogs to limited-edition collectables, the exhibition store is packed with magical goodies you won't find anywhere else. Pre-sale tickets go live on June 23 for fans who join the waitlist. General ticket sales open on June 24, but early access is your best shot at securing a spot before they vanish faster than a disapparating house-elf. Let's go, muggles. From Dhs115. Starting July 25, open weekly Weds-Mon. Manarat Al Saadiyat. Looking for things to do in Dubai? 23 of Dubai's best beach clubs to book before the heat hits Which one are you heading to? Incredible things to do in Dubai this week There are some great deals to take advantage of Dhs100 left in your wallet? Here's how to spend it this weekend in Dubai Make your dirhams last longer
