Glasgow was in for a devastating International Women’s Day this year, as a B-listed Victorian building at Glasgow Central Station caught fire. As a result, Scotland’s busiest station has closed “until further notice”, with significant travel disruptions.
It was reported that the fire started at a vape shop at 15:45 on Union Street on Sunday, March 8. The fire has now left just a carcass of the building, and the dome has collapsed. Fortunately, no one was injured, and people were evacuated in time. The police have now officially confirmed the fire’s starting point, with further investigation needed to determine the cause.
The Union Corner building was built in 1851, and is connected to Glasgow Central Station. The fire started near the main entrance to the railway station where Blue Lagoon is, and many local businesses have suffered as a result.
When will Glasgow Central Station reopen?
National Rail said there was “no estimate on when the station will reopen”, as the station was closed on Monday, March 9 and Tuesday, March 10. What is more, Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland, has advised that the station will be closed for the rest of the week.
Ross Moran said: “Unfortunately, further work is required to ensure the high level station is safe for trains to operate.
“We want to reassure passengers that we are doing everything we can to open the high level station, but we must enable the emergency services and Glasgow City Council to complete their critical work to secure the Union Corner site and make it safe.”
What are the next steps before the station can reopen?
As Glasgow Central Station is directly connected to the building that has caught on fire, vigorous processes need to be completed before it can reopen to the public.
Firstly, the fire department needs to confirm the blaze has been competely distinguished before the process is handed over to Glasgow City Council – who will decide on whether to demolish the facade of the burned down building on Union Street.
Network Rail then needs to inspect and decide what needs to be done before all four entrances to the station can safely reopen, while engineers check for any damage to the glass roof.
Predictably, the overhead wires, as well as the railway signal system, will be tested within Glasgow Central Station, as well as the public address system.
Train cancellations
No services are currently operating on the high level of the station, while the low level trains are still passing by without stopping, with Argyle Street and Anderson stations still fully operational.
What is more, Glaswegians are in for more disruption in the coming days. Chief Operating Officer David Ross told the BBC: “Our advice to passengers is to look at the ScotRail website and the app and see exactly what is running, but we are also asking people to be very patient with our staff – we are doing the best we can in very difficult circumstances.”
Disrupted services
- Inverclyde line services to Gourock and Wemyss Bay
- Cathcart Circle services around the south side via Mount Florida and Muirend
- East Kilbride line
- Kilmarnock and Ayr line, including Stranraer services
- Lanark line
- Long-distance services to London Euston (Avanti West Coast) and various CrossCountry destinations
- Services to Paisley Canal
What is more, there are no trains or replacements for the Glasgow Central service to Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Airport with TransPennine Express.
The Caledonian Sleeper from Glasgow Central to London Euston is, instead, departing from Edinburgh, with complimentary connections from Glasgow Queen Street for ticket holders, as well as to those travelling with Avanti West Coast.
Road closures
- Renfield Street at West George Street
- St Vincent Street at West Nile Street
- West Nile Street southbound from Bath Street
- Broomielaw between Oswald Street and Jamaica Street
