Glasgow Central to partially re-open tomorrow after huge fire

Glasgow Central railway station will partially reopen on Wednesday, it has been confirmed, after a fire destroyed a neighbouring building.

The main part of Glasgow Central has been closed since March 8 when the fire tore through the Union Corner building, forcing Scotland’s busiest station to shut.

With demolition work ongoing, much of Glasgow Central will remain shut and the area near the Gordon Street entrance will be cordoned off.

Several services will return, including those between Glasgow, Ayrshire and Inverclyde, but with a reduced number of platforms available, and limited entry and exit points for customers, this will not allow for the return of trains on all routes that normally operate.  

Network Rail say the changes mean there will be reduced capacity and passengers should check their journeys before setting off.

Focus on keeping 'customers moving safely'

Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland: “We’re grateful for the patience and understanding shown by passengers, businesses and the wider community over this past week.

“This has been an exceptionally challenging situation for everyone affected and I want to thank all those involved who have worked tirelessly to get us to the point where we can safely welcome people back to the station.

“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.”

From the start of service on Wednesday, the following services 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.

Barriers have been erected inside Glasgow Central Station marking the exclusion zone which limits customer access and movement, while ScotRail say staff will be on hand at Hope Street to guide and support customers to and from platforms.

Hope Street, Gordon Street and Union Street entrances will remain closed.

A full timetable of services at the low level platforms, which serve routes from Cumbernauld, Whifflet, Larkhall, and Motherwell to Dalmuir, Balloch, and Milngavie, resumed last week.

People urged to check before travelling

ScotRail Chief Operating Officer, David Ross, is encouraging customers to check their journey before travelling.

He said: “I am very pleased we will be able to welcome customers back to Glasgow Central high level following the partial reopening of the station from Wednesday.

“We realise the closure is causing significant disruption for our customers, and we’re very sorry for the impact it is still having on journeys.

“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.

“Our teams continue to work hard to keep people moving, and we’d encourage customers to check their journey before travelling using the ScotRail app or website.”