Restoring Aberdeen Railway Station’s Historic Roof Glazing

Aberdeen Railway Station is one of the city’s most recognisable transport landmarks. As a Category A listed building, preserving its traditional appearance was an important consideration when its ageing roof glazing needed replacing.

Macleod Roofing was appointed to install the replacement glazing as part of a major station refurbishment led by principal contractor Story Contracting.

The project involved replacing approximately 10,000 Georgian wired glass panels with a modern polycarbonate alternative, covering around 8,000 square metres of roof glazing.

The aim was to maintain the character of the original glazing while improving safety, durability and long-term performance.

Replacing the Original Georgian Wired Glazing

The station’s original Georgian wired glazing had deteriorated over time, with panels becoming cracked, discoloured and prone to leaking.

In some areas, damaged glazing had created safety concerns, making the replacement of the existing panels an important part of the wider refurbishment.

However, the solution had to be carefully considered.

As a listed building, Aberdeen Railway Station required replacement materials that would respect its architectural character while addressing the practical challenges of maintaining a busy railway station.

The selected system needed to replicate the traditional appearance of Georgian wired glass without the additional weight and risk of breakages.

A Modern Glazing System with a Traditional Appearance

The project used Twinfix’s Multi-Link-Panel NF roof-glazing system, incorporating 6mm Georgian wired-effect polycarbonate.

The replacement panels were designed to closely match the appearance of the original glass, retaining the distinctive patterned finish while offering the benefits of modern materials.

Unlike traditional wired glass, the polycarbonate panels are significantly lighter and highly impact-resistant, helping to reduce the risk of breakages and simplify future maintenance.

The system also allows natural daylight through the station’s roof and platform canopies, helping to maintain a bright environment for passengers.

For Macleod Roofing, the installation offered a practical way to combine modern roofing technology with the appearance of a traditional railway station.

Aberdeen Railway Station roofing project

Installing New Roof Glazing at a Working Railway Station

One of the biggest challenges was carrying out the installation while Aberdeen Railway Station remained operational.

With thousands of passengers using the station each day, work had to be carefully coordinated to minimise disruption to railway services and public access.

The installation was carried out around restricted working windows, including night shifts and trackside possession hours.

The lightweight, modular design of the Twinfix system allowed Macleod Roofing’s team to install large sections of glazing efficiently, making the most of the limited time available.

Having previously worked on similar railway glazing projects at Stirling and Inverness stations, the team brought valuable experience of working with specialist glazing systems in operational railway environments.

This experience, combined with careful planning and coordination across the wider project team, helped the installation progress while the station continued to operate.

Improving Safety and Long-Term Performance

While maintaining the station’s appearance was essential, the new glazing also needed to provide practical improvements.

The original glass panels were vulnerable to cracking and breakages, creating ongoing maintenance challenges.

The replacement Georgian wired-effect polycarbonate offers greater impact resistance and significantly reduced weight compared with the original glazing.

The Twinfix Multi-Link-Panel NF system is also designed and tested to meet recognised non-fragility standards, providing additional safety benefits.

These improvements help reduce the risks associated with damaged roof glazing and provide a more durable solution for the station’s roof and canopies.

The Result: Preserving Aberdeen Railway Station’s Character

The completed glazing installation has helped restore the appearance of Aberdeen Railway Station while introducing modern materials designed for greater durability and safety.

Approximately 10,000 replacement panels now closely replicate the traditional Georgian wired glass, retaining the distinctive character of this Category A listed building.

The project demonstrates how modern roofing systems can be used to preserve historic architecture while addressing the practical demands of a busy public building.

For Macleod Roofing, Aberdeen Railway Station is another example of the team’s specialist roofing and glazing experience, building on similar work previously completed at Stirling and Inverness railway stations.