Partial Reopening of Glasgow Central Station
Glasgow Central Station is set to partially reopen on Wednesday, enabling the resumption of some Scotrail and cross-border train services.
As Scotland's busiest railway station, it has remained closed since Sunday, 8 March, following a fire that originated in a vape shop on Union Street and spread to a B-listed Victorian building adjacent to the station.
The main entrance on Gordon Street will stay closed due to ongoing safety concerns.
Train services will operate on a reduced timetable, and passengers are advised to verify their journeys before traveling.
Resuming Train Services
Scotrail has announced plans to operate as many services as possible; however, with a limited number of platforms available, not all routes will be reinstated immediately.
From the start of service on Wednesday, the following will be operational:
- Avanti West Coast and Caledonian Sleeper services will resume, according to Network Rail.
- The first train departing from the station on Wednesday will be the 05:48 Avanti service from Glasgow to London Euston.
However, Transpennine Express and Cross Country services will not be operating.
Train Services Not Operating
Certain routes remain suspended, while some others are running with significant alterations.
Station Facilities and Access
Platforms seven to fifteen on the west side of the station will reopen for service commencement on Wednesday.
Passengers will access the station through the low-level entrances and the Hope Street carriage driveway, an area typically reserved for special events and vehicular access.
Access from the upper section of Central Station, including the Union Street, Gordon Street, and upper Hope Street entrances, will remain closed.
Station facilities and shops, including the main toilets, will remain closed.
Two disabled toilets, one equipped with baby-change facilities, will be available, and staff will be present to assist passengers.
Network Rail has stated that most of the main concourse will be inaccessible and will be screened off with solid metal sheeting.
Services from the smaller low-level station, which serves routes to Balloch and Milngavie in the west and Motherwell and Cumbernauld to the east, resumed last Wednesday.
Plans for Additional Services
"While temporary arrangements will remain in place for a little while longer, we want to reassure customers that our focus is on keeping them moving safely as services return. We'll carry on working closely with all operators and partners to restore full access as soon as it is safe to do so."
— Network Rail route director Ross Moran
"Resuming services on more than half the high level platforms in the station is a big step forward and will ensure as many people as possible can travel into Glasgow city centre. The safety of our customers and staff remains our absolute priority, and while we have limited platforms and access points to the station available, we will operate as many services as we can. We will keep the timetable under regular review and when it is safe to add more services we will do so."
— David Ross, Scotrail chief operating officer
Cause and Impact of the Closure
The fire began in a vape shop on Union Street at approximately 15:45 on Sunday, 8 March, prompting an immediate response from firefighters.
The blaze engulfed the entire building located at the corner of Union Street and Gordon Street, adjacent to Glasgow Central Station, resulting in a partial collapse.
Only the facade of the building at the corner of Gordon Street and Union Street remains standing.
The building, known as Union Corner, dates back to 1851, predating the station which opened in 1879.
Glasgow City Council confirmed on Thursday that the "highly dangerous" remains of the B-listed Victorian building will be demolished.
The chimney stack on the southern gable has already been removed, with demolition work now focusing on the back wall of the collapsed structure.
Crews are working continuously; however, progress depends on weather conditions, as cranes cannot be operated in high winds.
