Contactless Payments Now Accepted on Glasgow Subway
Commuters using the Glasgow subway can now pay via contactless methods. This update allows passengers to tap credit cards, debit cards, or mobile wallets at ticket gates for entry. Charges will be applied based on the number of journeys made.
Ticket prices are set at £1.80 for a single journey, with a daily cap of £3.40 and a weekly cap of £15.50, matching the Smartcard prices planned for 2026. To benefit from these caps, passengers must use the same payment card for all journeys.
The introduction of contactless payments coincides with ongoing disruptions in Glasgow's rail network, particularly following a major fire on Union Street that led to the closure of Central Station.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) reported a notable shift from cash to debit and credit card payments since 2020. SPT stated that contactless payment provides a convenient option for many customers but emphasized that all existing payment methods remain available. These include cash payments at ticket offices and ticket vending machines.
Passengers wishing to pay for two or more individuals simultaneously will still need to use ticket offices or ticket machines.
When Will Glasgow Central Reopen?
The announcement comes amid significant ongoing bus and train disruptions, eight days after the Union Street fire. High-level services at Glasgow Central Station are not expected to resume until Wednesday at the earliest. However, low-level platforms reopened to passengers last week.
Bus services through Union Street have also been severely affected due to safety work at the site.
The historic Union Corner building, located at the junction of Union Street and Gordon Street, is being demolished after being destroyed in a major fire last Sunday.
Glasgow City Council described the building as "highly dangerous," noting that parts of it continued to collapse.
The fire originated in a vape shop in the afternoon and rapidly engulfed the entire building within hours.
It is understood that the tenants of the vape shop were being pursued by a debt recovery service for unpaid council business rates.
