No train services will operate to or from the major station on Tuesday, the railway network operator has now revealed in the latest update following the devastating fire
An update has been issued on the reopening of Scotland’s busiest train station – and it looks like there may be problems for commuters across the country for some time yet.
Glasgow Central railway station has been closed in the wake of a devastating fire that broke out at a vape shop on Sunday (March 8) afternoon.
The fire quickly spread from one shop to the next and eventually spread to the building next door – the train station – which saw part of the iconic building collapse in on itself.
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ScotRail quickly announced trains would not be running come Monday morning, with Glasgow’s rush hour providing a real challenge for commuters with few rail replacement options made available. Now, ScotRail has confirmed Glasgow Central will also remain closed on Tuesday (March 10), alongside another unwelcome update for commuters – which is to expect disruptions to continue for several days to come.
The train service operator stated that no ScotRail services will operate to or from Glasgow Central High Level on Tuesday, with services which normally operate via Glasgow Central Low Level will run but will not call at the low-level station.
Customers are advised to travel to and from Argyle Street or Anderston Station while also checking their journey before travelling, as many routes across the west of Scotland are suspended or operating with alterations due to the fire.
ScotRail is continuing to keep customers updated – including information on impacted routes and details of how to claim refunds on unused tickets – on the ScotRail website, app, and through its social media channels. Station staff are also on hand across the network to help where possible.
Emergency services and Network Rail are still assessing the damage left behind by the great fire, while ScotRail will provide further updates on its services as soon as more information becomes available.
ScotRail chief operating officer, David Ross, said: “Glasgow Central will remain closed on Tuesday while the impact of the fire in the building next to the station is assessed and we expect disruption to continue for several days.
“We’d like to thank our colleagues in the fire and emergency services who worked incredibly hard to tackle the blaze and prevent it from spreading to the station itself. We know this closure will cause significant disruption for our customers, and we’re very sorry for the impact this will have on their journeys.
“Our teams are working hard to keep people moving where possible, and we’d encourage customers to check their journey before travelling using the ScotRail app or website.”
Scottish Fire and Rescue confirmed that crews are still working to cool off hotspots within the stonework of the building, and are working alongside structural engineers to assess the stability of the remaining building.
As of 3.30pm Monday (March 9), eight appliances, including three high-reach vehicles, remained in attendance.
“We cannot speculate on the cause of the fire at this time. In line with fire investigation protocols, a multi-agency investigation will be conducted, however due to the significant damage that has occurred this may be hampered,” a spokesperson said for the fire service, adding that “due to the proximity of the incident to the railway infrastructure and the presence of significant debris, Glasgow Central Station remains closed”.
