(Image credit: KenSoftTH, Shutterstock)
GLASGOW Central high-level is to partially reopen on Wednesday (March 18), Network Rail has confirmed.
The upper area of Scotland’s busiest station has been closed since March 8, following the devastating fire on Union Street.
Following a handover of the site from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on March 12, Glasgow City Council established an exclusion zone around the fire damaged building to protect the public and those working nearby while remediation work takes place. This cordon will continue to cover the upper part of Central Station – including the Union Street, Gordon Street and Hope Street entrances.
To enable the partial reopening of some platforms from Wednesday, passengers will access the station via the low-level entrances and the Hope Street carriage driveway, which is normally used during special events. The station will look different, with facilities and shops closed, and barriers and signage marking the exclusion zone, Network Rail said.
A ‘significant’ amount of work is being carried out ahead of reopening – including inspections, cleaning, repairs, and operational checks. Essential kit needed for the station to operate safely, including the public address system and passenger information equipment, has been moved to new locations and temporary facilities have been set up for station and train staff.
There will be changes to the timetable as a result of the reduced capacity of the station, and passengers are asked to check journeys with their operator before travelling.
Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland, said, “We’re grateful for the patience and understanding shown by passengers, businesses and the wider community over this past week. This has been an exceptionally challenging situation for everyone affected and I want to thank all those involved who have worked tirelessly to get us to the point where we can safely welcome people back to the station.
“While temporary arrangements will remain in place for a little while longer, we want to reassure customers that our focus is on keeping them moving safely as services return. We’ll carry on working closely with all operators and partners to restore full access as soon as it is safe to do so.”
