‘No estimate on when station will reopen’: Glasgow Central remains closed after fire
A major UK railway station remains closed following a nearby fire.
Commuters are facing difficult journeys after a fire near a major UK railway station. Glasgow Central remains closed after a blaze at a vape shop in nearby Union Street on Sunday afternoon (March 8).
National Rail said there was “no estimate on when the station will reopen” following the fire, which was reported at just after 3.45pm on Sunday, with crews still battling the blaze at 5.45am this morning (March 9).
“We expect disruption to continue on routes to/from/through Glasgow Central until at least the end of the day,” a National Rail spokesperson said. No trains will run to or from the high-level platforms at Scotland’s busiest station, while trains that run through the low-level platforms will not stop.
Avanti West Coast advised passengers an amended train service will run to Preston, Carlisle and Motherwell, “enabling customers to connect with trains to Edinburgh and local services to the Glasgow area”.
ScotRail warned of substantial disruption to its services and urged passengers to check for the latest information before travelling. And TransPennine Express said its services would not run between Glasgow Central and Liverpool Lime Street or Manchester Airport on Monday, while trains between Edinburgh and Newcastle/Manchester Airport will be subject to delays and cancellations in both directions.
As fire crews tackle the flames, people have been urged to avoid the area where possible, with a fire service spokesperson saying: “Firefighters were mobilised at 3.46pm on Sunday, March 8, to reports of a fire on the ground floor of a four-storey building. Operations remain ongoing and there have been no reports of casualties.”
On Sunday night, First Minister John Swinney, said: “I am deeply concerned about the fire near Glasgow Central Station tonight and very grateful to all of the emergency services who are responding. Please continue to follow travel guidance, avoid the area and stay safe.”
Paul Sweeney, Labour MSP for Glasgow, said the building which housed the vape shop where the fire started, which dated back to 1851, had ‘partially collapsed’. He said: “Sadly the building has now partially collapsed. I hope the fire can be contained.
“The corner of the Forsyth Building, as well as the Caledonian Chambers and Central Hotel seem unaffected. It’s a massive blow to Union Street with the restoration of the Egyptian Halls in prospect.”