On International Women’s Day, a devastating fire tore through a B-listed Victorian building connected to Glasgow Central Station, forcing Scotland’s busiest transit hub to close for a while and causing widespread travel chaos.
While everyone was safely evacuated and no injuries were reported, the historic building was gutted, leaving only a hollow shell after its dome collapsed. Police have confirmed the shop as the starting point, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Built in 1851, the Union Corner building sits adjacent to the station’s main entrance near the Blue Lagoon fish and chip shop. The incident has left numerous local businesses facing severe disruptions, and certain Glasgow Central station exits have remained closed since, as well as a portion of Union Street.
The Union Street and Glasgow Central station exit reopening dates
On July 13, the full station concourse is set to reopen as the exclusion zone is removed.
Then, July 17 will see the Gordon Street and Union Street entrances reopen, as Glasgow Central Station returns to normal. What is more, the carriage driveway will close, and the final works will also be finished by the reopening date.
As for the burned down site itself, the structure will be rebuilt in the next five to six years, according to Glasgow City Council, and the site will start being used again later this year.
Liam Sumpter, managing director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “The reopening of the Union Street and Gordon Street entrances is a significant milestone in Glasgow Central’s recovery and means the station will once again be fully open to passengers.
“Our teams have worked tirelessly over the past few months to prepare for this moment. Thanks to their efforts, we can now welcome passengers back through every entrance and return Scotland’s busiest station to normal operation.
“I’d also like to thank our passengers, retailers and railway colleagues for their patience and support. With the Commonwealth Games just around the corner, it’s fantastic to be able to fully reopen the station and help Glasgow welcome visitors from across the world.”
Phil Campbell, ScotRail customer operations director, said: “The full reopening of Glasgow Central is a significant milestone for Scotland’s Railway and everyone who relies on it.
“Throughout the recovery, our teams worked closely with Network Rail and industry partners to minimise disruption, provide clear travel information, and safely restore services.
“We’re pleased to see the station fully reopened and thank our customers for their patience and understanding while this vital work was carried out.”
Caledonian Sleeper’s managing director Graham Kelly said: “The full reopening of Glasgow Central Station is fantastic news. It ensures our guests can access all of the facilities of Scotland’s busiest station, providing a smoother journey experience and easy access to key locations around the city and beyond.
“Caledonian Sleeper services have continued to operate consistently since the tragic fire, thanks to our team quickly putting temporary contingency plans in place. As the first experience of Scotland for many guests travelling from London, it’s great to see the station restored to full operation.
“I would like to thank our industry colleagues and partners for their commitment throughout this period and helping us continue to deliver an excellent service for our guests.”
Mark Green, Avanti West Coast station manager at Glasgow Central, said: “While we resumed our full service at Glasgow Central and reopened our Ticket Office and First Class Lounge back in March, we’ve continued to work closely with Network Rail and industry partners to ensure people can safely move around the station during the partial closure.
“It’s great to see this latest milestone in the station’s reopening, marking another important step in the recovery of this part of Glasgow – a city we’re proud to serve. We’d like to thank customers for their patience and understanding over the last few months.”
