Work on award-winning impactful transport projects at WSP

There's no challenge in the built and natural environment that WSP experts won't see as a possibility.

From the tallest towers to the deepest stations, WSP experts plan, design and deliver value for clients and forge a sustainable future for the planet. And the impact of these WSP projects is often recognized by prestigious awards.

One such project is the Blackford Rail Freight Facility project in Scotland. This project won the Contribution to Sustainable Transport category at the Scottish Transport Awards, alongside WSP client, Highland Spring, which highlighted freight's vital role in decarbonizing transport.

Drawing on more than 130 years of technical excellence, WSP offers a holistic approach to transport and infrastructure – across the planning, design and management. WSP brings the latest technologies and a culture of innovation to its work to meet customer needs for mobility, connectivity, sustainability and resiliency. This indeed offers many exciting transport-related career possibilities at WSP.

Reducing a project's environment impact

Supported by the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, Network Rail and The Railway Industry Association, the Scottish Transport Awards bring together the transport community to recognize and celebrate industry achievements across Scotland.

Winning the Contribution to Sustainable Transport category, highlighted the success of WSP's policies that reduce its environmental impact, for example, reducing carbon footprint, which is supported by clear results. Types of projects that qualify for this category include the use of alternative vehicle fuels and technologies or freight practices, which have resulted in mileage and/or emissions/reductions.

Supporting the community and the environment

WSP's Blackford Rail Freight Facility project delivered a positive impact both to the community of Blackford in Perthshire, and the environment. For example, WSP and the Highland Spring Group hosted a STEM workshop at Blackford Primary School, with some excellent questions being asked by young students.

"The final design wasn’t the easiest option technically, but it will provide long-term benefits to the environment, the local community and Highland Spring Group’s business. Located next to the Allan Water, the site is an area that suffers from flooding. We designed the scheme with climate change rainfall projections in mind, so it’s ready for a 1 in 200-year flood event. A natural swale forms part of a sustainable drainage system and ties into the site landscaping," explained WSP UK Project Manager and Senior Engineer, Mhairi Hawksworth.

"We also reused materials wherever possible. To raise the level of the site to that of the existing railway, we worked with civil contractor Luddon Construction to minimize imported material (and therefore lorry movements through the village) by stabilizing the existing soils. Because the rail siding only needs to handle a few trains per day, travelling at just five miles per hour, we were also able to specify recycled railway sleepers mitigating the production 180m3 of concrete by doing so," added Mhairi.