Glasgow Central Station Remains Closed for Third Day After Union Street Fire

Commuters in Scotland are facing ongoing travel chaos as Glasgow Central Station remains closed for a third consecutive day. The closure follows a devastating fire that broke out at a vape shop on Union Street this past Sunday, spreading to and gutting several neighboring businesses.

While Glasgow Central Station itself appears to have avoided major structural damage, safety remains the primary concern. Emergency services are still on the scene, and critical safety inspections must be completed before the station can safely reopen to the public.

Travel Disruption and Alternative Routes

All train services to and from Scotland’s busiest railway station are currently suspended, with disruptions expected to continue.

Train Operator	Current Status & Advice
Network Rail	Station remains closed pending safety checks. Timescales for reopening are unconfirmed.
ScotRail	Services suspended. Passengers are advised to seek alternative travel arrangements.
Avanti West Coast	Running an amended service to Preston, Carlisle, and Motherwell to help passengers connect to Edinburgh and local Glasgow routes.

David Ross, ScotRail’s chief operating officer, apologized for the significant disruption but praised emergency responders for preventing the flames from spreading to the station itself.

Community Rallies Behind Destroyed Businesses

The impact on the local community has been severe. Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney described the aftermath of the blaze as looking "like something out of the Blitz." The historic building that took the brunt of the damage dates back to 1851.

Despite the destruction, the public has quickly rallied to support those affected. A GoFundMe campaign has already raised over £80,000 for local business owners who lost their livelihoods.

Among those affected is Joe Diaz, who runs a neighboring hair salon. Diaz described a harrowing escape on Sunday afternoon, noting that he and his partner had to rush their client out of the building through "really heavy, dark smoke" as the fire rapidly escalated.