Glasgow Queen Street train station set for new security gates to 'stop vandals ramming through doors'

New security gates are to be erected at Queen Street Station as vandals have been ramming through automatic doors and entering during hours of closure.

Network Rail is to install the gates at a number of entrances to the train station to stop people getting in after being granted a prior approval request from the council for the work.

The railway body said money has been spent to repeatedly repair damaged doors after several break-ins.

It comes just a year after the station, which is the third busiest in Scotland, underwent a £120m transformation.

A letter from Network Rail requesting prior approval from the council said: “The redeveloped Queen Street Station was fully completed in October 2021. Within the last year during the hours when the station is closed there have been several occasions where the automatic doors have been forced open.

“This has led to people entering the station out of hours, damage to the doors and repeated repair costs to the public purse.”

The new gates are to be installed at George Square, Dundas Street and North Hanover Street.

The letter said: “It is proposed to install bespoke security gates at all four entrances to the station. The design at Dundas Street and at George Square takes reference from the arch shape of the A listed train shed at the station.

“The lower sections of the gates have a more solid plate in order to avoid a climbing hazard.

“The bi-fold gate design can be folded away whilst open, resulting in a discreet feature during station opening.”

The North Hanover Street entrance would see a roller shutter installed until the next phase of the station redevelopment.

The letter said Network Rail aims to carry out the work at the station under permitted development rights.

The redeveloped station has a larger concourse than before and has improved accessibility with lifts into the new building from Queen Street and step-free access from Dundas and North Hanover streets.

Customers have a new travel centre, toilets and an accessible changing place facility.