Glasgow Central Station fully reopening four months after devastating fire

Glasgow Central Station fully reopens on Friday four months after a fire that destroyed a neighbouring building.

With final works at the site finished, Union Street will open to pedestrians and vehicles at 1pm on Friday.

The Gordon Street entrance will also reopen, marking the final step in the station’s recovery following the fire.

Ahead of the remaining entrances opening, the station concourse reopened on Monday after being shut since the blaze on Union Corner in March.

The fire broke out in a head and vape shop on Union Street near Central Station on March 8, tearing through a Victorian-era building. It was so badly damaged that it was determined it had to be demolished.

Glasgow City Council confirmed that work to stabilise a gable at the site is now complete and the scaffolding has been removed.

The local authority has appointed architects to explore the “meanwhile use” of Union Corner before a permanent solution can be found.

O’Donnell Brown will develop plans for how the site can be used over the next four years or so.

Liam Sumpter, managing director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “The reopening of the Union Street and Gordon Street entrances is a significant milestone in Glasgow Central’s recovery and means the station will once again be fully open to passengers.

“Our teams have worked tirelessly over the past few months to prepare for this moment. Thanks to their efforts, we can now welcome passengers back through every entrance and return Scotland’s busiest station to normal operation.

“I’d also like to thank our passengers, retailers and railway colleagues for their patience and support. With the Commonwealth Games just around the corner, it’s fantastic to be able to fully reopen the station and help Glasgow welcome visitors from across the world.”

Phil Campbell, ScotRail customer operations director, said: “The full reopening of Glasgow Central is a significant milestone for Scotland’s Railway and everyone who relies on it.

“Throughout the recovery, our teams worked closely with Network Rail and industry partners to minimise disruption, provide clear travel information, and safely restore services.

“We’re pleased to see the station fully reopened and thank our customers for their patience and understanding while this vital work was carried out.”

Angus Millar, convener for city centre recovery at Glasgow City Council, said: “I would like to thank everyone affected by the fire and its aftermath for their patience, and pass on my gratitude to the council staff, our contractors and partners for the huge amount of work they have done to get us to this stage.”