Scotland’s busiest railway station will fully reopen on Wednesday – more than two weeks on from a devastating fire that tore through a neighbouring building.
The main part of Glasgow Central was closed to passengers after a huge blaze broke out at a nearby vape shop on Union Street on 8 March, destroying the B-listed Victorian building.
The travel hub partially opened last week with a limited timetable and will now return to full capacity on 25 March – once again welcoming services from ScotRail, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express, CrossCountry and Caledonian Sleeper.
Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “Glasgow Central is at the heart of the city and is Scotland’s busiest station, and 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.”
A reduced exclusion zone within the high-level concourse will remain in place while Glasgow City Council continues its nearby demolition work.
The Gordon Street and Union Street entrances remain closed, with passengers urged to use the upper Hope Street entrance, the Hope Street driveway, and the low-level entrances to enter and leave the station.
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Network Rail said the reopening follows “detailed inspections, cleaning, repairs, and operational checks”.
Mr Moran added: “I’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding. Their cooperation has made a difficult situation easier and we’re grateful for the support shown.
“Our priority now is to keep people moving safely and give everyone who relies on this station a smooth and welcoming experience on Wednesday.”
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First Minister John Swinney previously announced £11m in funding in response to the blaze.
A £10m support package will aim to help the council, businesses and agencies rebuild, while up to £1m will go towards the cost of demolition.
Ahead of the station’s full reopening, passengers are being urged to check their journeys with their train operator before travelling.
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David Ross, ScotRail chief operating officer, said: “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.
“The safety of our customers and staff is our priority, and the decision to reopen the high level has only been taken following comprehensive safety checks by Glasgow City Council and Network Rail.
“We know some people will be travelling by rail for the first time since the fire, so we will have staff on hand at Glasgow Central and across the network to support customers and answer any questions.”
