Glasgow Central railway station is set to partially reopen on Wednesday, following a fire that severely damaged a neighbouring building and forced the station's closure on Sunday, March 8. The main concourse remains closed, but low-level entrances and the Hope Street carriage driveway will be accessible to passengers.
Network Rail has warned that the partial reopening will result in reduced capacity and urged passengers to check their journey times before travelling. Services to and from Ayr, Paisley Gilmour Street, Kilwinning, Gourock, Kilmarnock, East Kilbride, and Carlisle have resumed, though some will operate on a reduced schedule.
Alison Irvine, chief executive of Transport Scotland, praised the efforts of Network Rail and ScotRail staff in a video posted on X, calling it a “phenomenal effort” to bring people together and make the station available to passengers. She urged travellers to plan their journeys and allow extra time.
Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland, thanked passengers and the community for their patience, stating that temporary arrangements will remain in place while work continues to restore full access safely. Glasgow City Council has confirmed that the remaining structure of the Victorian building, which was ravaged by the fire, will be demolished due to safety concerns.
The fire, which started in a vape shop on Union Street, destroyed much of the Union Corner building, leaving only the facade standing. Demolition experts have been working to safely bring down parts of the structure. ScotRail has carried out stringent safety checks ahead of the partial reopening.
David Ross, ScotRail chief operating officer, expressed satisfaction at welcoming customers back to the high-level platforms, noting that resuming services on more than half of them is a significant step forward. He apologised for the ongoing disruption and assured that safety remains the top priority.
