Glasgow Central Station officially opens new £5m first-class lounge and ticket office

A new first-class lounge and ticket office has officially opened in Glasgow Central train station.

The new space was created by converting the Gordon Street Avanti West Coast ticket office and was officially opened by Network Rail on Monday.

The new office is part of a £5m upgrade of the station, and will be located next to platforms one and two at Caledonian Chambers.

It will include two welcome desks, extra ticket machines and user-friendly information screens.

The new reception is said to 'significantly improve' the passenger experience. — The new reception is said to ‘significantly improve’ the passenger experience. Network Rail via Supplied

The new step-free reception will “significantly improve” the commuting experience for passengers, with improved accessibility, and staff on hand with handheld devices to assist customers and provide a more visible presence.

Network Rail received a £52,000 grant from the Railway Heritage Trust to refurbish some of the sash windows on the building façade, which feature in Avanti West Coast’s First Class Lounge.

Liam Sumpter, Network Rail Scotland managing director, said: “This project represents an exciting opportunity to enhance facilities within the station in what is a multi-million-pound investment in Glasgow Central.

“The upgrade we are delivering will improve choice for our passengers and better serve the needs of our retailers by creating more modern commercial spaces within the station.”

The new office is part of a £5m upgrade of the station. Network Rail via Supplied

Andy Mellors, managing director at Avanti West Coast, said: “We’ve been looking forward to opening the doors to our new Ticket Office and First Class Lounge following this latest investment to improve journeys on the west coast.

“Glasgow is a key destination on our route and a city we’re proud to serve, so we’re absolutely delighted we now have welcoming facilities that complement the beautiful station and can be enjoyed by our customers travelling to and from Glasgow Central.

“These facilities offer a better experience with improved accessibility, as well as making it easier to buy tickets and find journey information.

“Our new location in Caledonian Chambers also means we’re closer to our customers on Platforms 1 and 2. It has been great working with Network Rail Scotland to transform these spaces, as part of their Glasgow Central station upgrade project and we look forward to seeing further improvements.”