How could the effects of the Glasgow Central closure be mitigated?

[bluesfromagun]

Moderator note: Split from

Fire at Glasgow Central (08/03/26)

It seems that there's a large fire on the Union Street side of Central Station - from the photo I've seen, one of the buildings backing on to platform 1. All lines currently closed and nothing coming in or out, but services are still running through the low level platforms...

www.railforums.co.uk

As somebody stated earlier in this thread, the biggest issue with running anything is the train crew situation. If staff cannot access the mess facilities, booking on points, and so on - then trains can't run, or at least trains crewed by Glasgow Central drivers (and conductors) that is. That's the vast majority of local services. There'll be Ayr, Corkerhill, Shields, Dumfries, Motherwell crews at work, but you couldn't even begin to run much of a service with that alone. Plus even planning that at short notice is a nightmare.

If the station or even just the crew facilities remain closed for any amount of time, they'll quickly need to come up with a solution, and it'll probably involve basing crew at Atrium Court temporarily, and relying on taxis to get them to Paisley or Motherwell or wherever services are stopping short. You'd also need Portacabins in most of the places you were changing crew over too, so that there were mess facilities and toilets - you can't just say to a driver or guard "your break is at East Kilbride now", you have to provide them with somewhere to sit, a toilet, cooking facilities.

 

[mrmartin]

Can't ScotRail just rent a cafe/restaurant nearby (the entire venue) for a "mess" room?

 

[380101]

Can't ScotRail just rent a cafe/restaurant nearby (the entire venue) for a "mess" room?

Their HQ is a 2min walk along Waterloo St from Central Station. I expect they will use the training Academy for bothy facilities.

 

[b0b]

Any chance they might consider re-opening a couple of the western platforms, and using the Argyle St and or Hope St entrances while keeping most of the station concourse closed? I guess the first signs of life is probably going to be re-opening the lower level platforms.

 

[Krokodil]

You'd also need portacabins in most of the places you were changing crew over too, so that there were mess facilities and toilets - you can't just say to a driver or guard "your break is at East Kilbride now", you have to provide them with somewhere to sit, a toilet, cooking facilities.

When Llandudno Junction was closed by a fire a temporary messroom and booking-on point was set up in a pub in Colwyn Bay.

Whilst it's too late to do anything about it for this occasion, it is surprising that emergency planning for a major station like Glasgow Central being out of service does not include a sufficient number of staff being signed for the alternative stations and routes that would form part of the plan.

It's hard enough to get someone to pay for route knowledge for very routine diversions (like GWR Plymouth crews no longer signing Bridgwater or TfW crews not signing Bescot), never mind for something exceptional like this.

 

[185143]

When Llandudno Junction was closed by a fire a temporary messroom and booking-on point was set up in a pub in Colwyn Bay.


It's hard enough to get someone to pay for route knowledge for very routine diversions (like GWR Plymouth crews no longer signing Bridgwater or TfW crews not signing Bescot), never mind for something exceptional like this.

Of course nowadays, most TOC drug and alcohol policies would rule that out!

 

[norbitonflyer]

Of course nowadays, most TOC drug and alcohol policies would rule that out!

I don't see why, as long as it is clearly understood by all concerned (rail staff and bar staff alike) that the train crew are not allowed alcohol.

 

[Krokodil]

Of course nowadays, most TOC drug and alcohol policies would rule that out!

I don't see why, as long as it is clearly understood by all concerned (rail staff and bar staff alike) that the train crew are not allowed alcohol.

Officially ATWs policy was that staff shouldn't be in licenced premises in uniform. I presume that this rule was ignored on the basis that they had hired the venue for their exclusive use.

 

[185143]

I don't see why, as long as it is clearly understood by all concerned (rail staff and bar staff alike) that the train crew are not allowed alcohol.

AIUI, being in licensed premises in uniform is generally a no go.

I agree, in exceptional circumstances such as these, if that's the nearest suitable location common sense should prevail. All Safety Critical staff know they're not allowed alcohol.

 

[b0b]

presumably the hotel has conference rooms that might be useable as a temporary mess

 

[35B]

I don't see why, as long as it is clearly understood by all concerned (rail staff and bar staff alike) that the train crew are not allowed alcohol.

Absolutely. I've stayed in hotels for work which have been used for aircrew accommodation, and their bookings were clearly differentiated to avoid alcohol consumption in the hotel.

Based on reports of a colleague who worked as a stewardess on long haul, those policies didn't always work 100%

 

[RiverDon]

presumably the hotel has conference rooms that might be useable as a temporary mess

They're using the Training Academy on the ground floor at Atrium Court, the Scotrail HQ, for booking on and PNB facilities. It is a 2 minute walk along Waterloo Street.

 

[AilsaBus]

According to Google maps, Argyle Street is shut where it passes under Central station. When that reopens, I expect the low level station will too. It's easy to block off the escalators leading to the main concourse. For the time being, Argyle Street station is a short walk from Central so its an easy alternative for passengers on that line.

It is not shut, the road under Central Station and the access to the low level has been open since the works on Argyle Street started. I see no reason why they can't allow trains to stop at the low level and direct passengers to use the Argyle Street and Hope Street low level entrances.

 

[800001]

It is not shut, the road under Central Station and the access to the low level has been open since the works on Argyle Street started. I see no reason why they can't allow trains to stop at the low level and direct passengers to use the Argyle Street and Hope Street low level entrances.

There must be a valid reason why they not stopping at Low Level. Otherwise they would!
Easy to make judgements without knowing full facts.

 

[MadCommuter]

It is not shut, the road under Central Station and the access to the low level has been open since the works on Argyle Street started. I see no reason why they can't allow trains to stop at the low level and direct passengers to use the Argyle Street and Hope Street low level entrances.

SFRS has a large hose from the Clyde going up Oswald St to Gordon St to supplement the water supply and not overdraw from Scottish Water's supply. I'm guessing this pipe prevents Argyle St from being opened to traffic. This alone though, doesn't prevent access to the low level platforms from the other end of the umbrella. Unless they have 2 hoses from the Clyde, one up Jamaica St and one up Oswald St?

 

[The exile]

It is not shut, the road under Central Station and the access to the low level has been open since the works on Argyle Street started. I see no reason why they can't allow trains to stop at the low level and direct passengers to use the Argyle Street and Hope Street low level entrances.

Unless any “control functions” for the Low Level operate out of areas currently “out of bounds”.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Of course nowadays, most TOC drug and alcohol policies would rule that out!

Most likely in the function room. We had similar at Crewe with the hotel opposite before it was repurposed.

 

[35B]

Unless any “control functions” for the Low Level operate out of areas currently “out of bounds”.

Or they just want to manage the dispersal while they assess the condition. As has been noted, Argyle Street station is hardly far from Central.

 

[AilsaBus]

Realtime Trains | 0Z99 1705 Carnforth Steamtown to Glasgow Central | 09/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 0Z99 1705 departure from Carnforth Steamtown to Glasgow Central on 09/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I’m assuming they’re going to be moving the 390s that are stuck in the station as WCR 57314 is currently heading north to Glasgow on this working.

Why would they need to send a locomotive up to rescue the 390s?! Surely they could be driven out under their own power?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Why would they need to send a locomotive up to rescue the 390s?! Surely they could be driven out under their own power?

Is power still isolated until FB release the site from risk?

 

[MadCommuter]

Why would they need to send a locomotive up to rescue the 390s?! Surely they could be driven out under their own power?

The power has been isolated I think was said on here last night

 

[AilsaBus]

The power has been isolated I think was6said on here last night

Health and safety getting silly now. I doubt turning the power on is going to cause anything bad to happen.

 

[b0b]

Unless any “control functions” for the Low Level operate out of areas currently “out of bounds”.

or they think there's still a risk that the fire isn't completely out or re-ignite

 

[enginedin]

Health and safety getting silly now. I doubt turning the power on is going to cause anything bad to happen.

Depending on what mains cables have been damaged by the fire or huge amounts of water it might not even be possible to turn the power on...

 

[800001]

Health and safety getting silly now. I doubt turning the power on is going to cause anything bad to happen.

You seem to be an expert on all things railways/fire.

You think it safe to have trains stopping at Central Low Level and now think it's ok to have OHL power turned on.

I think many people will side with the profession people on the ground who know what they are dealing with and what preventative measures need to be implementers

 

[Warrior2852]

Health and safety getting silly now. I doubt turning the power on is going to cause anything bad to happen.

It's not generally sensible to have 25 kV exposed wires turned on next to an active situation involving fire damage.

 

[AilsaBus]

You seem to be an expert on all things railways/fire.

You think it safe to have trains stopping at Central Low Level and now think it's ok to have OHL power turned on.

I think many people will side with the profession people on the ground who know what they are dealing with and what preventative measures need to be implementers

Where have I claimed to be an expert?

 

[JModulo]

No. You will likely find the power is still isolated. Even if the power was live, the fact that sets have been sat there, essentially abandoned, means the batteries will now likely be flat meaning you wouldn't could use them anyhow.

 

[Taunton]

SFRS has a large hose from the Clyde going up Oswald St to Gordon St to supplement the water supply and not overdraw from Scottish Water's supply. I'm guessing this pipe prevents Argyle St from being opened to traffic.

Temporary bridging units are available to allow traffic to continue to run over the top of fire hoses. They are extensively used in Continental cities, especially to allow tram services to continue over them at walking pace. They are just spiked into the asphalt. I think they are called 'Kletterweiche'.

Fire services taking water from other than the public supply doesn't seem too common in the UK, but it does happen. In California, particularly after earthquakes when the city supply may be fractured, they classically draw water from all the nearby houses' swimming pools.

 

[father_jack]

Temporary bridging units are available to allow traffic to continue to run over the top of fire hoses. They are extensively used in Continental cities, especially to allow tram services to continue over them at walking pace. They are just spiked into the asphalt. I think they are called 'Kletterweiche'.

These.....

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