Union Street and Central Station fully reopen four months after major fire

Roads around Union Street and all entrances to Glasgow Central Station have reopened, four months after a fire caused major disruption to the city centre.

Streets surrounding the fire site have been closed since the blaze took hold of a B-listed Victorian building on March 8.

Following the demolition of the site, scaffolding has been removed, and work to stabilise the gable walls has been completed.

All entrances to Glasgow Central have reopened STV News

The street, including the Union Street and Gordon Street entrances to Glasgow Central Station, reopened at 12pm on Friday.

The station concourse reopened on Monday with the pedestrianised carriage driveway closed, and the station has returning to normal operation.

Hoarding has been installed around the fire site and will soon be dressed to mark the forthcoming Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Dilapidated scaffold at Egyptian Halls, also on Union Street, has been removed as part of works to reopen the street.

Deputy first minister Jenny Gilruth visited the station and Union Street on Friday morning as final preparations were being made for the reopening.

She said: “It’s been great today to see the progress that’s been made by Glasgow City Council and by ScotRail and Network Rail working together collaboratively for the benefit of the local community here in Glasgow.

“And we know that a number of businesses, over 150 I think, have been affected by the impacts of the fire earlier this year.

“At that time, of course, the government came forward with the provision of up to £10m of extra funding to help support local businesses and it’s been really helpful to hear a bit more about the impact that’s had, allowing the local authority, for example, to move at pace to help provide support to local businesses and to regenerate and rejuvenate this part of the city, all in time for the Commonwealth Games.

“The city is getting ready to showcase itself, and we know that Glasgow shines when it showcases itself.

“It did so in 2014 with the Commonwealth Games, and it will do so again.”

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.

Joanne Maguire, managing director of ScotRail, said: “It’s a great day for our staff and for our passengers.

“There’s been a phenomenal amount of work done by Glasgow City Council, by Network Rail Scotland colleagues, and by ScotRail to ensure that we have the station fully reopened before the Commonwealth Games and the summer of sport.

“We’re hugely thankful to our passengers for their patience since the Union Street fire in March.

“There was a lot of work done to get our services resumed, partially in the first week and then fully.

“We know that it has been disruptive with a limited number of entrances and exits. But we know that our customers were delighted that we resumed the full timetable so quickly.”