Glasgow Central Station is set to fully reopen on July 17 following a catastrophic fire and explosion that tore through a building on Union Street on March 8. Glasgow City Council confirmed that stabilisation work at the site has been completed, allowing the station and surrounding streets to resume normal operation.
Extent of the Damage
The blaze erupted in a vape shop on Union Street, rapidly spreading through the building and around the corner, leading to a structural collapse. Only the facade of the B-listed Victorian building at the junction with Gordon Street remained standing, but it was later demolished due to safety concerns. The fire caused significant disruption, with parts of Union Street and several station entrances closed for months.
Reopening Timeline
Network Rail Scotland announced that the full station concourse will reopen on July 13, while the Union Street and Gordon Street entrances will open from July 17. Glasgow City Council stated that Union Street will fully reopen to pedestrians and vehicles at 1pm on July 17, once final works are completed. 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."
Recovery Efforts
Sumpter praised the efforts of Network Rail teams: "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." He also thanked passengers, retailers, and railway colleagues for their patience, adding: "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."
ScotRail's Response
Phil Campbell, ScotRail customer operations director, welcomed the reopening: "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."
Future of the Site
Glasgow City Council has appointed architectural firm O'Donnell Brown to explore "meanwhile use" of the Union Corner site before a permanent solution is found. The firm will develop plans for how the site can be used over the next four years. Councillor Angus Millar, convener for city centre recovery at Glasgow City Council, said: "I am pleased that the reopening of Union Street can now be confirmed, following the extensive work undertaken to clear the site after the fire earlier this year. This is a key stage in the recovery of the area around Central Station and will allow people and vehicles to move far more smoothly through this part of the city centre." He thanked council staff, contractors, and partners for their efforts.
