Glasgow Central Station to fully reopen after Union Street fire
Getty ImagesGlasgow Central Station will fully reopen all platforms on Wednesday, two weeks after a devastating fire collapsed the building next door.
Network Rail said all ScotRail and cross-border routes would be restored at Scotland's busiest railway station after a partial reopening last week.
The station avoided serious damage after a blaze in a vape shop spread through a B-listed Victorian building on Union Street on 8 March.
Platforms one to six will be reopened, but the station's front entrance on Gordon Street will remain closed during ongoing demolition and clear-up work.
Network Rail route director Ross Moran said: "We've been fully focused on getting everyone back safely.
"The aftermath of the fire has been a significant challenge for everyone involved, but our teams have been working tirelessly to restore the station and support our passengers, train operators and retailers.
"Our priority now is to keep people moving safely and give everyone who relies on this station a smooth and welcoming experience on Wednesday."
David Ross, Scotrail chief operating officer, said: "This is excellent news for our customers, and I am very pleased we will be able to resume our normal timetable.
"We understand how frustrating the closure has been for customers whose journeys have been disrupted, and we're very sorry for the impact it has had."
Station facilities will also reopen, including the shops and toilets, but some of the main concourse will remain closed.
Passengers should continue to use Glasgow Central's Hope Street and low-level entrances while the main doors are blocked off.
Train services from the low-level platforms, which run to Balloch and Milngavie in the west and Motherwell and Cumbernauld to the east, were the first to resume after the blaze.
The news came as a multi-million pound fund to support businesses affected by the fire opened for applications.
The Fire Recovery Fund is being administered by Glasgow City Council, using funding from the Scottish government's £10m commitment to support the recovery from the fire.
All eligible businesses displaced due to the fire and surrounding buildings directly affected by the fire will qualify for support.
Three levels of funding support will be available - £25,000 for each of the 73 businesses who lost their premises in Forsyth House, £15,000 for each of the 78 businesses in the current cordon and £2,000 for each of the 700 businesses within the initial cordon.
Which services are returning?
- Edinburgh - Glasgow Central via Shotts/Carstairs
- Cathcart Circle - Glasgow Central
- Paisley Canal - Glasgow Central
- Newton - Glasgow Central
- Barrhead - Glasgow Central
- Neilston - Glasgow Central
- Ardrossan South Beach/Harbour - Glasgow Central
Altered routes will also return to normal:
- Glasgow – Largs
- Glasgow – Dumfries/Carlisle
- Glasgow – Stranraer
Avanti West Coast will go back to running its full timetable of two trains per hour.
Passengers are still advised to check their journey before travelling.
Why was Glasgow Central Station closed?
Getty ImagesThe fire started in a vape shop on Union Street at about 15:45 on Sunday 8 March, with firefighters called soon after.
The blaze engulfed the entire building which occupied the corner of Union Street and Gordon Street, next to Glasgow Central Station.
The building known as Union Corner, dates back to 1851, pre-dating the station which opened in 1879.
The structure collapse with only part of the facade left standing.
This has been demolished by Glasgow City Council with work continuing to remove the rubble.
