Authorities confirmed the Glasgow Central station closure will continue until at least next week while crews demolish a fire-damaged building nearby.
The fire broke out on Sunday in a vape shop on Union Street. Flames quickly spread through a neighbouring Victorian structure beside Glasgow Central station. Emergency services contained the blaze. However, the fire left the building severely damaged and structurally unstable.
Because of the danger, officials closed the station’s central section. The disruption affects Scotland’s busiest railway hub in Glasgow. Demolition crews began dismantling the damaged building on Friday. Heavy machinery moved onto the site to start removing unstable sections of the structure.
Network Rail said engineers cannot safely enter the station while demolition continues. Therefore, they cannot inspect the main station platforms yet. As a result, the Glasgow Central station closure will remain in place until at least Wednesday 18 March. Officials will reassess the situation once demolition reaches a safer stage.
Some train services have already resumed. Lower-level platforms reopened earlier this week after safety checks. However, the high-level platforms remain closed because they sit closest to the damaged building.
Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland, acknowledged the disruption for commuters and businesses. He said teams understand the impact on passengers and the city centre. Nevertheless, engineers must wait until demolition crews secure the site.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service handed control of the area to Glasgow City Council on Thursday. Council officials then ordered a full demolition after inspecting the remaining structure.
Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, warned that the building currently poses a serious public safety risk. She explained that the fire destroyed the building’s structural integrity. Parts of the structure, including a chimney stack, remain dangerously unstable.
Because of this risk, authorities sealed off surrounding streets and businesses. Local shops inside the safety cordon now face temporary closure. Council teams have started offering support to affected businesses while demolition continues.
Officials say rebuilding the damaged area will take time. However, they aim to restore normal activity as quickly as possible. In the meantime, safety remains the top priority. Engineers and demolition crews will continue working until the site becomes safe again.
Until then, the Glasgow Central station closure will remain in effect while authorities secure the area and assess the damage.
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