Glasgow Central Station partly reopens after Union Street fire
BBCGlasgow Central Station has partially reopened 10 days after a large fire destroyed a neighbouring building.
Scotland's busiest railway station has been closed since Sunday 8 March when a blaze spread from a vape shop on Union Street through a B-listed Victorian building next to the station. Union Corner is being demolished due to the damage.
Some ScotRail and cross-border train services have resumed, with platforms seven to 15 on the west side of the station back in use.
The main entrance on Gordon Street remains closed due to safety concerns.
There is a reduced timetable and passengers are asked to check their journeys before travelling.
A Glasgow Central spokesperson said the first high level train departed at 05:45.
Network Rail said commuters can access the station via the low-level entrances on Argyle Street, and the Hope Street carriage driveway, which is normally used during special events and for vehicular access.
There is no access to the upper part of Central Station, including the Union Street, Gordon Street and upper Hope Street entrances.
Services from the smaller low-level station, which runs services to Balloch and Milngavie in the west and Motherwell and Cumbernauld to the east, resumed last Wednesday.
Facilities and shops in the station, including the main toilets, will remain closed.
However two disabled toilets, including one with baby-changing facilities, are available and staff are on site to direct passengers.
Most of the main concourse is not accessible and has been screened off using solid metal sheeting.
Route director Ross Moran said Network Rail hoped to restore full access "as soon as it is safe to do so".
PA MediaScotrail's chief operating officer David Ross said resuming services on more than half the high level platforms was a "big step forward" and the timetable would be kept under regular review.
"The great news is that services at Glasgow Central high level are back open for business today and we're really delighted progress has been made," he said.
However it was not yet possible for trains to resume on all routes due to the reduced number of available platforms.
"The safety of our customers and staff remains our absolute priority, and while we have limited platforms and access points to the station available, we will operate as many services as we can," he added.
Which train services are resuming?
The following will operate from the start of service on Wednesday:
- Ayr and Glasgow Central – a half hourly service, calling at all stations between Paisley Gilmour Street – Kilwinning (Johnstone / Milliken Park / Howwood / Lochwinnoch / Glengarnock / Dalry)
- Gourock and Glasgow Central – an hourly service, calling at all stations
- Wemyss Bay and Glasgow Central – an hourly service, calling at all stations
- Kilmarnock and Glasgow Central – a half hourly service, calling at all stations (integrated with normal Carlisle/South Ayrshire services)
- East Kilbride and Glasgow Central – a half hourly service
- Lanark and Glasgow Central – an hourly service
Avanti West Coast will run one train per hour from Platform 10. The first train out of the station on Wednesday was the 05:48 Glasgow to London Euston.
Network Rail said Caledonian Sleeper services will resume and serve Platform 11.
But there will be no Transpennine Express or Cross Country services.
Which train services are not operating?
The following routes are unable to run:
- 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
Some routes are operating but with significant alterations:
- Glasgow – Largs - operating only Largs - Kilwinning
- Glasgow – Dumfries/Carlisle - operating only Carlisle/Dumfries - Kilmarnock
- Glasgow – Stranraer - operating only Stranraer - Kilmarnock
