Fire at Glasgow Central (08/03/26)

[Buzby]

It is whatever type of USB plug they are using to power them that is the issue. A standard iPhone charger or USB-within-a-plug-socket works just as well.

Unless of course it’s a knock-off with zero protection. Despite my best endeavours I ended up with two of these - one melted in use and the other got so hot it smouldered!

 

[ScottDarg]

Any sign of the Fire Brigade being able to leave the scene,?

I passed around 11am today and there were still 3 pumps + 1 high reach appliance present. Hoses were still firing water on to what remains of the building.

There was a sizeable group of NR staff grouped outside the Hope St entrance but the gates were still locked shut. The route director (Ross Moran) was also present and looked to be preparing to film another update video.

 

[deerokus]

Unless of course it’s a knock-off with zero protection. Despite my best endeavours I ended up with two of these - one melted in use and the other got so hot it smouldered!

Big Clive on YouTube has some very entertaining and hair-raising videos about some of these.

 

[dgl]

I know of a fire round here (in Dorchester) that happened in December 2024 and the building hasn't been fully rebuilt or looks anywhere near to being fully rebuilt, and that's in the main shopping street.

Also I know a couple or so days after the fire brigade had left they had to return as it started smouldering.

 

[AndrewP]

The main thing I am noting here is that this fire has been without death or injury (I stand to be corrected) which is a good thing.

The way building legislation works in the UK is that it is reactive meaning that, as long as it's built right, the newer the building the safer it is in a fire although the priority is safety of people in it rather than the building itself. Being the age it is, this building will predate compartmentalization which stops the spread and seems to have, in a fortune accident of design, protected the station accordingly.

It will take a long time for the building to be rebuilt as whenever insurers are involved it takes time so the people of Glasgow can expect hoardings for a long time to come.

Well done to the fire brigade and railway staff involved

 

[mr_moo]

I can't see any visible damage.

What is really surprising is the lack of broken glass, given the ferocity of the blaze, I expected a lot of the roof glazing to be gone in the immediate area from the heat.

Just watched it myself. Agreed - That's quite incredible. I expected there to be at least blackened areas, broken glass, and water damage but it looks absolutely fine. Wow!
Having said that, appearences can be quite deceptive. I daresay the high temperatures may have caused some expansion of those metal beams which may have damaged or moved some of the roof supports or caused cracking in the beams or something. That wouldn't be visible until the engineers get up there and have a close look but could be quite major to repair.

As everyone else has said - Massive well done to the fire service.

 

[Scotrail344Lad]

Indeed - well done.

 

[hexagon789]

Just watched it myself. Agreed - That's quite incredible. I expected there to be at least blackened areas, broken glass, and water damage but it looks absolutely fine. Wow!
Having said that, appearences can be quite deceptive. I daresay the high temperatures may have caused some expansion of those metal beams which may have damaged or moved some of the roof supports or caused cracking in the beams or something. That wouldn't be visible until the engineers get up there and have a close look but could be quite major to repair.

As everyone else has said - Massive well done to the fire service.

There are at least some cracked glass panes, but don't appear to be any missing or completely broken.

 

[The exile]

There are at least some cracked glass panes, but don't appear to be any missing or completely broken.

Depending on when the glass was last replaced, some of those might predate the fire!

 

[hexagon789]

Depending on when the glass was last replaced, some of those might predate the fire!

I didn't think it was that long ago, but time often passes quicker than one realises, very true.

 

[Prime586]

Most of the LED lighting and neon displays are powered by a 5v 1A USB cable, and doubtful have any electrical issues with them. I've got a few of them and never had any issues with overheating or any electrical interference at all. It is whatever type of USB plug they are using to power them that is the issue. A standard iPhone charger or USB-within-a-plug-socket works just as well.

The hexagonal LED grid lighting that was installed on the ceiling and back wall is mains powered. The cheap stuff from China comes with a 2-pin euro plug cable with no fuse, and when shipped to the UK they throw in an unfused adapter (or 'death-dapter' as Big Clive calls them).

 

[Western Gaffer]

This picture is taken from quite a good angle to see the boundaries between the burnt building and its surroundings, together with how little of the interior remains:

Image of fire scene from a drone, copyright The Scotsman

 

[deerokus]

The roof was extensively renovated in the 90s. I don't know for certain if every pane was replaced then but it was a big one.

I remember it being a lot brighter and airier afterwards, previously I think there was still panels that had been blackedout during WWII.

It's quite a miracle that the fire didn't spread to the hotel.

 

[InOban]

The roof was extensively renovated in the 90s. I don't know for certain if every pane was replaced then but it was a big one.

I remember it being a lot brighter and airier afterwards, previously I think there was still panels that had been blackedout during WWII.

It's quite a miracle that the fire didn't spread to the hotel.

As has been pointed out earlier, there was a clear fire break between the two buildings, which clearly did its job.

 

[DesDobramento]

Loss of the fire-damaged building will have the significant benefit of permanently making the NE corner (around/above WH Smugs) of the station concourse much less dingy - there will be more natural light (once the last of the smoke and dust clears!)

 

[skyhigh]

Loss of the fire-damaged building will have the significant benefit of permanently making the NE corner (around/above WH Smugs) of the station concourse much less dingy - there will be more natural light (once the last of the smoke and dust clears!)

Until something new is built...

 

[deerokus]

Network Rail guy giving quite a good explanation of the current situation. It sounds like Monday at the earliest and they're potentially looking into opening platforms10-15 first.

https://x.com/Clyde1News/status/2031702994841116734?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

 

[D1511]

A half-decent planning brief could ensure a brighter and airier feel to that corner, and deliver a nice new atrium entrance......but admittedly in 10+ years time......

 

[Russel]

Should the main entrance need to be closed for a prolonged period, is access to the concourse still possible via the old carpark entrance off Hope Street, or was that all bricked up when the new platforms were built in the carparks place?

 

[Buzby]

No, not bricked up. Official vehicles and BTP use it. It wouldn’t work for pedestrians as there are 2 360 degree loops on an incline that is steeper on the bends. It’s a shame they blocked off the second Gordon Street entrance furthest away from the eastern entrance on Gordon Street (the bit between was the Booking Hall).

 

[Russel]

No, not bricked up. Official vehicles and BTP use it. It wouldn’t work for pedestrians as there are 2 360 degree loops on an incline that is steeper on the bends. It’s a shame they blocked off the second Gordon Street entrance furthest away from the eastern entrance on Gordon Street (the bit between was the Booking Hall).

Ah okay, thanks for the explanation, I was trying to work out where the road emerged on the concourse but haven't found any obvious photos showing the layout.

 

[Buzby]

The ramp appears just in front of platforms 13 & 14, previously Taxi’s would exit the ramp and take a sharp left, running down a small roadway that run alongside the west station wall, exiting back into Hope Street at Waterloo Street through the (now) pedestrian arch. Mail vans and parking cars continued forward to reach P11 & P12. They later cut a hole in the platform to form a ramp that took vehicles down to exit into Oswald Street (next to NCP multi-storey). This was then blocked off with the new trackbed for the abandoned Airport Rail Link replacing it

Incidentally if you look above where the vehicle ramp exits into the station , there’s a beautiful carving of the Caledonian Railway insignia in golden sandstone.

 

[68000]

Network Rail guy giving quite a good explanation of the current situation. It sounds like Monday at the earliest and they're potentially looking into opening platforms10-15 first.

https://x.com/Clyde1News/status/2031702994841116734?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Ross is a good man, very capable

 

[TUC]

Network Rail guy giving quite a good explanation of the current situation. It sounds like Monday at the earliest and they're potentially looking into opening platforms10-15 first.

https://x.com/Clyde1News/status/2031702994841116734?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Interesting that he refers to responsibility for the fire-damaged building passing from the Fire Service to Glasgow City Council. Is that because the council own the building?

 

[DelW]

Interesting that he refers to responsibility for the fire-damaged building passing from the Fire Service to Glasgow City Council. Is that because the council own the building?

I think the local authority building control department would be responsible for assessing its structural safety (or probably commissioning such checks rather than their necessarily being done in-house).

 

[CEN60]

Ah okay, thanks for the explanation, I was trying to work out where the road emerged on the concourse but haven't found any obvious photos showing the layout.

The vehicle access has been used for pedestrian access regularly in recent years - when there is an Old Firm (Rangers v Celtic) Match at Hampden - the "spiral" road access has been used to queue Rangers Fans in before them boarding specific specials. It is a bit of a walk (I know as I've done it) so why couldn't it be used if necessary? The spiral road comes up behind the BT Police Building on the Concourse just in front of the escalators down to low level.

 

[Scotty Dog]

As has been pointed out earlier, there was a clear fire break between the two buildings, which clearly did its job.

The burnt building was sandstone too and I think the boundary wall of Central Station is granite which will have stood up well.

 

[The exile]

I think the local authority building control department would be responsible for assessing its structural safety (or probably commissioning such checks rather than their necessarily being done in-house).

It’s presumably less for the building itself than managing the risk it poses to others - and also provides a clear “point of control” if the structure concerned were to have multiple owners.

 

[DelW]

It’s presumably less for the building itself than managing the risk it poses to others - and also provides a clear “point of control” if the structure concerned were to have multiple owners.

Yes, very likely that. From the aerial photo in post 405, it will probably be a matter of co-ordinating the demolition of the remaining walls without causing any further damage outwith the building footprint. It's hard to see anything worth saving in the remains.

 

[Kingston Dan]

I think the local authority building control department would be responsible for assessing its structural safety (or probably commissioning such checks rather than their necessarily being done in-house).

In Scotland it's building standards not building control - the systems have significant differences (there's no regulatory competition in Scotland for example) but on dangerous structures it's similar where regardless of ownership it's the building standards/control team that certify the safety of dangerous structures before allowing owners/tenants/neighbours back on site.