GLASGOW Central’s high level is to remain closed until at least March 18, Network Rail has confirmed as demolition and safety work continues at the nearby fire-damaged building on Union Street.
Glasgow City Council has contracted local firm Burnfield Demolition to lead the works, after its building standards team concluded that demolition ‘must happen in the interests of public safety’.
Low‑level services resumed at Glasgow Central earlier this week, but the upper platforms have been closed since March 8, following the devastating fire that left the neighbouring Union Corner building ‘seriously compromised’.
No significant structural issues have been identified at Glasgow Central by Network Rail’s specialist teams. Any damage, including to the glazing and water ingress, has been contained to a small office on the Union Street side of the station, it added.
Following the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service handing the site over yesterday, Glasgow City Council established an exclusion zone to protect the public and those working nearby while the remediation work takes place. This cordon continues to cover the high‑level area of Central Station – including the Union Street, Gordon Street, and Hope Street entrances.
With the local authority’s critical work still underway, Network Rail engineers cannot yet gain access to the station. The organisation said it will continue to work closely with Glasgow City Council as its teams progress the demolition and stabilisation of the area.
Planning for a potential partial reopening of the high-level is ongoing for when access is restored.
Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland, said, “We understand how disruptive this extended closure is for passengers and the wider city centre, and we’re extremely grateful for the continued patience and understanding people have shown.
“The damage to the building beside the station is clearly significant and any phased reopening will depend on demolition work progressing to a stage that allows our engineers to safely return. We’ll continue working closely with Glasgow City Council to support the response however we can.”
