Glasgow Central station to partially reopen after huge blaze

Glasgow Central Station will partially reopen on Wednesday, allowing a return of some Scotrail and cross-border train services.

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 door to the station.

The main entrance on Gordon Street will remain closed due to safety concerns.

There will be a reduced timetable and passengers are asked to check journeys before travelling.

Scotrail said it would run as many services as possible but with a reduced number of platforms available, it was not possible for the return of trains on all routes.

From the start of service on Wednesday, the following will operate:

• 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.

Network Rail said Avanti West Coast and Caledonian Sleeper services will resume. The first train out of the station on Wednesday will be the 0548 Avanti-run Glasgow to London Euston.

But there will be no Transpennine Express or Cross Country services.

The following routes are currently not operating:

• 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.

Platforms seven to 15 on the west side of the station will be back in use from the start of services on Wednesday.

Network Rail said passengers would access the station via the low-level entrances and the Hope Street carriage driveway, which is normally used during special events and vehicular access.

There will be no access from the upper part of Central Station, including the Union Street, Gordon Street and upper Hope Street entrances.

• Your questions answered on the Union Street fire

Facilities and shops in the station, including the main toilets, will be closed.

Two disabled toilets - one with baby-change facilities - will be available and staff will be on site to direct passengers.

Network Rail said most of the main concourse will not be accessible and screened off using solid metal sheeting.

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.

Network Rail route director Ross Moran said: "While temporary arrangements will remain in place for a little while longer, we want to reassure customers that our focus is on keeping them moving safely as services return.

"We'll carry on working closely with all operators and partners to restore full access as soon as it is safe to do so."

David Ross, Scotrail chief operating officer, said: "Resuming services on more than half the high level platforms in the station is a big step forward and will ensure as many people as possible can travel into Glasgow city centre.

"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.

"We will keep the timetable under regular review and when it is safe to add more services we will do so."

The fire started in a vape shop on Union Street at about 15:45 on Sunday 8 March, with firefighters being called soon after.

The blaze later engulfed the entire building which occupied the corner of Union Street and Gordon Street, next to Glasgow Central Station, causing it to partially collapse.

Only the facade of the building at the corner of Gordon Street and Union Street was left standing.

The building known as Union Corner, dates back to 1851, pre-dating the station which opened in 1879.

• Look back at how the fire unfolded

Glasgow City Council confirmed on Thursday the "highly dangerous" remains of the B-listed Victorian building would be demolished.

The chimney stack on the southern gable has been removed and work has moved to the back wall of the collapsed building.

The council said crews are working around the clock, but timescales were weather-dependent as cranes cannot be used in high winds.