Fire at Glasgow Central (08/03/26)

[D6130]

Operational convenience rather than that of the public. Can’t they terminate at Whifflet, where passengers could at least pick up a Dalmuir service?

Maybe Edinburgh crews don't sign Whifflet?

 

[MadMac]

I don't believe either of the Pollokshields have the appropriate infrastructure to allow turnbacks without significant wrong road running?

Anything terminating at Pollokshields West could run on to the Terminus Curve and reverse there, route knowledge permitting. Pollokshields East is more of a challenge if even possible. (Edit) There’s a crossover just past Pollokshields East that is now (presumably) wired and signalled. Note for @takno - there’s no ‘C’ in the ‘Pollok’ part of any of the four stations around there.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Mar 2026 ==

Maybe Edinburgh crews don't sign Whifflet?

That might be an issue. Nobody available to conduct?

 

[bluesfromagun]

Maybe Edinburgh crews don't sign Whifflet?

They don't. Neither will Glasgow Central crews. Only Motherwell and Yoker drivers now, and no conductors because its only served by DOO services now - that means that even though you could maybe dig up drivers to route conduct, you couldn't dig up anyone to route conduct the conductor so it's more or less impossible to run (drivers cannot conduct guards).

 

[reb0118]

Maybe Edinburgh crews don't sign Whifflet?

Correct we dont, I suspect Glasgow Central guards don't have it either. With hindsight maybe it was unfortunate to rationalise the interchange facilities at Holytown - it once was a major hub.

 

[Trackman]

I hope no-one has been injured

 

[Warrior2852]

ScotRail's got their full list of changes up:

ScotRail customer advice:​

The following services will be suspended in both directions:

• Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shotts / Carstairs
• Glasgow Central circular services
• Glasgow Central to Paisley Canal
• Glasgow Central to Newton
• Glasgow Central to Barrhead
• Glasgow Central to Neilston
• Glasgow Central to East Kilbride
• Glasgow Central to Ardrossan South Beach / Ardrossan Harbour
• Glasgow Central to Auchinleck

The following service alterations are in place:

• Glasgow Central to Gourock services will be reduced to one train per hour in each direction and revised to start / terminate from Paisley Gilmour Street
• Glasgow Central to Wemyss Bay services will be reduced to one train per hour in each direction and will be revised to start / terminate from Port Glasgow
• Glasgow Central to Largs services will be revised to start / terminate from Kilwinning
• Glasgow Central to Lanark services will be revised to start / terminate from Motherwell
• Glasgow Central to Kilmarnock services will be revised to start / terminate from Barrhead
• One train per hour will operate between Glasgow Central and Ayr and will be revised to start / terminate from Paisley Gilmour Street
• Glasgow Central to Dumfries / Carlisle will be revised to start / terminate from Kilmarnock
• Glasgow Central to Stranraer services will be revised to start / terminate from Kilmarnock
• Glasgow Central low level services will be revised to not call at Glasgow Central

Ticket acceptance in place allowing passengers to take any alternate ScotRail route that works, as well as McGills buses.
(Source: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/glasgow-central-20260308/)

 

[MadMac]

Correct we dont, I suspect Glasgow Central guards don't have it either. With hindsight maybe it was unfortunate to rationalise the interchange facilities at Holytown - it once was a major hub.

Academic as the Shotts line is now suspended UFN, but maybe Carfin would be a better option for onward bus connections?

 

[Strathclyder]

I hope no-one has been injured

No injuries have been reported thankfully. That should be the main thing to take away from this, as tragic as the loss of yet another Glasgow landmark (the domed building on the Union/Gordon St corner, not Central ofc) is. That and the efforts of the emergency services. Fought like hell in a incredibly trying situation to get this fire under control. Never mind giving them their flowers, they deserve a full rose garden each for their efforts tonight.

 

[380101]

I hope no-one has been injured

I've heard that up to six firefighters were injured as a result of the collapse of the building.

 

[CarrotPie]

Do we know if the fire has actually been extinguished yet or has everything just gone quiet for a bit?

 

[800001]

The tweet below is from Avanti with there travel advice

https://x.com/avantiwestcoast/status/2030798995807719763?s=46&t=JLp3J2Up_Gl_m9cQz-au6w

No trains will be running to and from Glasgow Central due to an emergency services incident at the station on Sunday 8th March.

An amended train service will run to Preston, Carlisle and Motherwell, enabling customers to connect with trains to Edinburgh and local services to the Glasgow area. Customers are strongly encouraged to check before they travel.

Tickets between London Euston and Glasgow Central will be accepted on LNER services via the East Coast Main Line.

Any customers with tickets dated Sunday 8th or Monday 9th March from Glasgow Central to London Euston can use their ticket on any Avanti West Coast train on Tuesday 10th March.

Alternatively, if you abandoned your journey as a result of the disruption you can claim a fee-free refund from where you bought your ticket.

 

[MadCommuter]

Do we know if the fire has actually been extinguished yet or has everything just gone quiet for a bit?

https://x.com/i/status/2030888993865277653

The photos in that link show the scene at 5am. It appears to show containment to the Union building but what's left of that building seems very unsafe.

 

[teaspoon]

Update from the fire service:

Media statement: Large building fire on Union Street, Glasgow

Media statement: Crews are currently tackling large building fire in Glasgow

www.firescotland.gov.uk

UPDATE AT 6.30AM ON MONDAY, 9 MARCH
The response to the commercial building fire on Union Street, Glasgow, has now been reduced, with nine fire appliances and three high-reach vehicles remaining at the scene.

Members of the public are still advised to avoid the area where possible, and nearby residents should keep windows closed as a precaution.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 3.46pm on Sunday, 8 March, to reports of a fire affecting the ground floor of a four-storey commercial building on Union Street, Glasgow.

"At its height, 18 appliances and specialist resources were mobilised. The incident has since been scaled back and nine appliances, including three high-reach vehicles, remain in attendance.

"There are no reported casualties."

Avanti's website shows that a reasonable number of their services are planned to be terminating/starting at Motherwell, so fair play to them for not just throwing in the towel at Preston.

 

[Steddenm]

BBC Breakfast live this morning shows smoke still billowing out of the buildings and people told to keep away from the affected area in the city centre. Quoted Network Rail saying that a "full investigation into the building will take place when it is safe to do so" and that the station will remain closed until further notice and that no services will operate.

 

[MadCommuter]

Lots of talk about vape shops will they have to move if close to other stations? Also the blue lagoon has been on fire 3 times so perhaps that area needs to be non retail?

Where does it stop though. Don't mobile phones use similar battery types?

What we don't know yet, is what exactly was in that shop. The lack of any decent signage outside suggests all kinds of things could have been stored inside. We all know the risks of poorly built batteries following the hover board fires so perhaps the vapes in there were dodgy batteries. As usual, we will need to wait for the investigation to conclude.

 

[D1537]

Lots of talk about vape shops will they have to move if close to other stations?

Since there doesn't appear to be an epidemic of burning vape shops, no. Also, I'm sure there are many businesses which store flammable material next to railway stations.

 

[Harpo]

Since there doesn't appear to be an epidemic of burning vape shops, no.

Not common in shops, but vape battery fires are a major concern for waste handlers, pointing to a high risk profile compared to other products.

Exploding vape batteries 'putting lives at risk'

A recycling facility says disposing of vapes in recycling is causing "significant problems".

www.bbc.co.uk

The incorrect disposal of vapes, in general and recycling waste, is an issue that is costing the waste industry millions of pounds and threatening livelihoods and lives, a company says.
One recycling facility in Aldridge said it was retrieving thousands of wrongly-disposed vapes each month.
Regional manager of the Biffa-run site, Luke Walter, said a "devastating" fire caused by a lithium battery in 2025 had shut the site for six months for it to be rebuilt.
"There is a misconception that they're harmless and people think they're doing the right thing putting them in the recycling," he said, "but they're causing significant problems for the industry and putting people's lives at risk".

 

[Towers]

Since there doesn't appear to be an epidemic of burning vape shops, no. Also, I'm sure there are many businesses which store flammable material next to railway stations.

Are there no hard rules regarding the storage of vast quantities of lithium batteries within premises such as vape shops? In other situations one might expect pretty firm fire precautions if you were sitting on a fire risk like that; you do wonder how these places get insured if their stock is that volatile?

 

[dosxuk]

Where does it stop though. Don't mobile phones use similar battery types?

Technology may be similar, but regulation is much different. There are few mobile phones on offer that don't meet current safety / consumer regulations, while there is a huge number of non-compliant vapes on the market. While it's very much in the interest of a mobile phone manufacturer to make sure their product doesn't spontaneously combust, that's not really in the mindset of many of the "as-cheap-as-possible" "its-going-to-landfill-anyway" vape manufacturers.

you do wonder how these places get insured if their stock is that volatile?

I suspect for many of these vape shops, having comprehensive insurance would mean they are no longer viable. I doubt the insurance companies have much of an idea of how much stock / how the stock is stored. In a way, it's not in their interest to pry too much, if the insuree is doing things against the terms of their agreement, then they can simply wash their hands of any problems.

 

[M60lad]

Am I right in thinking and on checking Tracksy that there's at least 2 Pendalino's stuck at Glasgow Central and one TPE along with quite a number of Scotrail Units that all seemed to be currently still birthed in the various platforms?

 

[MadCommuter]

Technology may be similar, but regulation is much different. There are few mobile phones on offer that don't meet current safety / consumer regulations, while there is a huge number of non-compliant vapes on the market. While it's very much in the interest of a mobile phone manufacturer to make sure their product doesn't spontaneously combust, that's not really in the mindset of many of the "as-cheap-as-possible" "its-going-to-landfill-anyway" vape manufacturers.

A very valid point.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Just turned on GBNews and seeing this for the first time. This looks quite serious even though thankfully injuries are low and casualties are zero. This will have major knock on effects I fear.

 

[styles]

Where does it stop though. Don't mobile phones use similar battery types?

The thing is, it's hard to.make dirt cheap mobile phones which people want to buy, which is why there's probably only about a dozen manufacturers selling phones in a typical mobile phone shop here. They have to invest huge amounts into design and manufacturing for a fairly expensive product, so they have all the incentive to get UKCA approval or whatever is needed.

Vapes they want to make and sell as cheaply as possible because that's all customers really want from them. They're clearly taking advantage of loopholes on the 'disposable' ban by sticking a USB charging port on the bottom of the vape which for the convenience of a disposable but not technically disposable vape, nobody is using.

Similarly, e-scooters and illegal e-bikes (technically motorbikes in law). The manufacturers are making something to be used unlawfully, so they're not really bothered about product safety and accreditations, on the whole.

These are manufacturers with all round poor ethics just trying to make money no matter the cost.

Unfortunately to properly restrict the sale of unsafe and unaccredited or unlicensed products requires much stricter penalties, much more enforcement resource, or both. I've seen those documentaries recently about people selling illegal cigarettes - they get confiscated, shopkeeper gets a fine, and they're restocked again the next day because they're making a killing from it even with the occasional fines.

There's not really the same with mobile phones because a cheap, unsafe mobile phone will take poor quality photos or be laggy or buggy or just full of spamware, and there's not really a good market for that.

Obviously worth saying that we don't actually know what caused the fire yet, though it seems to be a likely explanation.

 

[styles]

Looking at photos and drone footage from this morning, it looks very unstable and completely gutted inside. I can't see that they'll want to leave what remains there up for too long, though I'm not structural engineer!

 

[zwk500]

Looking at photos and drone footage from this morning, it looks very unstable and completely gutted inside. I can't see that they'll want to leave what remains there up for too long, though I'm not structural engineer!

One of the issues will be working out how to pull what remains down in a safe and controlled manner to avoid causing further damage to the adjacent buildings.

 

[D1537]

Are there no hard rules regarding the storage of vast quantities of lithium batteries within premises such as vape shops? In other situations one might expect pretty firm fire precautions if you were sitting on a fire risk like that; you do wonder how these places get insured if their stock is that volatile?

On the other hand, once a fire starts it doesn't matter if you've got a shop full of dodgy vapes or a shop full of iPhones, that's still a big pile of lithium batteries that are going to burn.

The difference is whether the dodgy vapes are more likely to start a fire.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Surely GBNews are pushing the "vape shops are all run by illegals" line by now, or is that just Rupert Lowe?

Not that I could see and hear. They are being reasonably neutral on the matter.

GBeebies blaming immigrants yet?

No

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Update from the fire service:

Media statement: Large building fire on Union Street, Glasgow

Media statement: Crews are currently tackling large building fire in Glasgow

www.firescotland.gov.uk

Not criticism of the fire brigade, but 12* appliances remaining at the scene out of the previous 18 is not much of a stand down!

Does anyone know who occupied the upper floors? There is a clear entrance between shops but no signage. Google Streetview shows some mannequins in some of the second floor windows.

*The press release contradicts itself, 9 plus 3 or 9 including 3, so could be 9 or 12 total.

 

[KevinTurvey]

As well as the lithium batteries, are the vapes not made from plastic bodies containing flammable liquids, so from a fire safety point of view extremely hazardous when hundreds/thousands of them are stored in boxes in a shop? Did the shop have a suitable fire suppression system or sprinklers?

I am aware of several bin wagons that have gone up in flames due to batteries and these sort of things being put in the rubbish, and people need to be aware.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

As well as the lithium batteries, are the vapes not made from plastic bodies containing flammable liquids, so from a fire safety point of view extremely hazardous when hundreds/thousands of them are stored in boxes in a shop? Did the shop have a suitable fire suppression system or sprinklers?

I am aware of several bin wagons that have gone up in flames due to batteries and these sort of things being put in the rubbish, and people need to be aware.

'People', in general, aren't bothered. They buy, they inhale, they throw. In the same way they throw the cellophane wrapper off cigarette boxes out of the car window. Someone else's problem. Until the costs come back to hit them in the form of higher council tax, but that's lost in the general maximum 4.9999% council tax increase every year anyway.