Glasgow Central station's high-level concourse will remain closed for the rest of the week following a devastating fire at a neighbouring building on Sunday night. Network Rail confirmed the closure is due to the instability of the mid-Victorian block on the corner of Union Street and Gordon Street, much of which collapsed during the blaze.
The low-level part of the station, used for local services, is set to reopen on Wednesday. No casualties were reported, but only the facade of the Gordon Street building remains after the fire gutted shops, offices, and retail spaces inside.
More than £160,000 has been raised via GoFundMe to support affected business owners, many of whom lost stock and tools. Network Rail's route director, Ross Moran, stated: 'Our priority is to reopen Glasgow Central as soon as it is safe to do so, working with emergency services, the council, and train operators.'
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that as of Tuesday afternoon, four fire appliances and one high-reach vehicle remained at the scene. Investigations revealed that the vape shop where the fire is believed to have started had not paid business rates and was not registered to sell tobacco or vaping products.
Colin Borland, Scotland director of the Federation of Small Businesses, urged the Scottish government to replicate the support package provided after the 2018 Glasgow art school fire, which included a £5m recovery fund and rates relief. He warned that the economic impact of closing Scotland's busiest station for days could be significant.
