Travel advice & experiences during the Glasgow Central disruption

[hexagon789]

Thank you, I hadn't realised I could get to Kilmarnock from Carlisle that easily. That would be much better. Fingers crossed I don't have to go until GC is open again, though!

The usual ScotRail Carlisle to Glasgow Central via Dumfries & Kilmarnock are currently running as far as Kilmarnock, so if permitted, it is another option.

I'd hope they'd allow it if you explain your final destination to them as it might be a bit easier than going up to Motherwell then trying to cross Glasgow by train and bus to get to Paisley.

 

[Peter0124]

The quicker journey (via Whifflet, hourly) appears to be 3 carriages all day. The longer journey (via Hamilton) appears to be mostly 6 carriages (2tph).

There is only about 1 or 2 minutes in the difference, Id imagine most people will go for the Hamilton's as they are the next one that connects off the Avanti trains.

 

[Pinus contorta]

Yes and weird to see. This sign at Preston for example.

You say that but i am currently on a train from Liverpool to Carlisle. The display at the Platform at Preston says it is going to Carlisle. However control must have told the guard it is going to Edinburgh as there's been an announcement on the train, and a new crew have jumped on at Preston.

 

[Pacef8]

A new video from network rail now says no upper platform access until Wednesday ?
Link below

https://x.com/pacef8/status/2032512772575998449?s=46&t=S5ZG3sDpFqcelwXX-5R3xA

 

[trainophile]

A new video from network rail now says not upper platform access until Wednesday ?

So what are my options for Tuesday on an Advance ticket TPE from Preston?

 

[Pacef8]

Same as ours from liverpool . See you in gregs .

 

[hexagon789]

So what are my options for Tuesday on an Advance ticket TPE from Preston?

Either changing at Carlisle and going via Edinburgh into Glasgow Queen Street or changing at Carlisle and going to Motherwell with the Argyle Line services into Glasgow Central Low Level from there.

(TPE are terminating at Carlisle, not Motherwell hence the need to change at Carlisle regardless.)

 

[trainophile]

Oh right, I'll consider my options then. Or lose my £98 Premier Inn booking .

When might ticket selling websites reflect the actual situation? I know it's early days, but I just searched on Trainsplit and they are still offering tickets on TPE from Carlisle to Glasgow Central.

 

[yorkie]

Oh right, I'll consider my options then. Or lose my £98 Premier Inn booking .

You can re book for no cost - other than any difference in price - by 1300 on the day of the booking

 

[enginedin]

Oh right, I'll consider my options then. Or lose my £98 Premier Inn booking .

I know it's a bit inconvenient, but the travel time is only something like an hour more than it would otherwise have been. Is the reason you're going to Glasgow so time critical that it's worth losing a hotel booking? :/

 

[MadCommuter]

I was on a 3 car low-level service earlier and most of the people in the carraige I was in were getting the Avanti service at Motherwell. The Class 318 & 320s are not great for people with the large luggage.

The problem being at intermediate stations after leaving Motherwell.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Mar 2026 ==

The high level station is now closed until at least Wednesday 18th March.

 

[hexagon789]

Oh right, I'll consider my options then. Or lose my £98 Premier Inn booking .

When might ticket selling websites reflect the actual situation? I know it's early days, but I just searched on Trainsplit and they are still offering tickets on TPE from Carlisle to Glasgow Central.

Even the cheapest Premier Inn rates allow amendment until 1pm on the day of arrival - you just pay any difference due

 

[trainophile]

You can re book for no cost - other than any difference in price - by 1300 on the day of the booking

Would it be possible to get a refund on the unused train tickets if I did that? They are Advances, out on Tuesday back on Thursday.

 

[Falcon1200]

Are they advising that because the Scot Rail trains are full and standing leaving Motherwell or is it to manage numbers alighting in Glasgow?

I've just changed at Motherwell, and a 6-car Dalmuir train has easily scooped up the onward passengers from a nearly-full Pendolino.

As have I, and again the 6-car formation had no problem accommodating all passengers, including those joining intermediately.

 

[Peter0124]

The problem being at intermediate stations after leaving Motherwell.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Mar 2026 ==

The high level station is now closed until at least Wednesday 18th March.

There's a train from Larkhall which runs infront of it anyway, serving Hamilton etc

 

[Rail Ranger]

TPE services from Preston are mainly terminating at Carlisle. TPE tickets are valid on Avanti to Motherwell then on ScotRail to Glasgow Central Low Level. Details are under "Status and Disruptions" on the National Rail website/app. Click on the section about the Glasgow Central closure and look at the section on TransPennine Express.

 

[Falcon1200]

Motherwell isn’t ideal.

Worked perfectly well for me today! And Motherwell could be better for passengers travelling to locations south of Glasgow who can avoid the city altogether and travel onwards by bus, taxi, or being picked up. Also, diverting additional Avanti trains to Edinburgh causes issues of capacity there, whereas a train terminating at Motherwell can run forward empty to Polmadie before returning for the next working.

 

[miami]

Oh right, I'll consider my options then. Or lose my £98 Premier Inn booking .

When might ticket selling websites reflect the actual situation? I know it's early days, but I just searched on Trainsplit and they are still offering tickets on TPE from Carlisle to Glasgow Central.

Just to clarify the railway will get you to Glasgow, it will take a little longer, but you'll get delay repay due to that (on all tickets used for your journey). Hell since Wednesday the railway will get you on a train to Glasgow Central itself.

 

[MadCommuter]

There's a train from Larkhall which runs infront of it anyway, serving Hamilton etc

Try catching a 3 car train then. Particularly 2F07 0717 from Motherwell.

 

[dosxuk]

Edit: looking at the video posted a few pages up, the corner by Whsmith and the Gordon Street entrance is cordoned off. Was that done during the early part of the fire whilst the station was still open? Seems odd to do it afterwards when the station is shut anyway.

The station isn't closed to everyone though, otherwise they wouldn't be filming there. That could be a demarkation between authorised personnel only and fire service / building control only.

It's really not that unusual for areas to have barriers in buildings / sites not open to the public.

 

[Acathater]

Either changing at Carlisle and going via Edinburgh into Glasgow Queen Street or changing at Carlisle and going to Motherwell with the Argyle Line services into Glasgow Central Low Level from there.

(TPE are terminating at Carlisle, not Motherwell hence the need to change at Carlisle regardless.)

At least the new pub within Carlisle station opened this week so you've got somewhere sensible to wait
Here's its Facebook page - it is a Lancaster Brewery pub

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[teaspoon]

For reasons best known to myself, I decided to save myself about three quid by splitting my Glasgow to London off-peak return on Monday at Oxenholme. Do you think an LNER guard is likely to quibble with me if the times work out better for me on the east coast (assuming ticket acceptance is still in place)

 

[Pacef8]

The transpennine extended dates of travel now include Wednesday 18th .

 

[Buzby]

Worked perfectly well for me today!

Delighted for you. I just got back from Sheffield via Edinburgh (again) and it was speedy and fuss-free. Off to Liverpool on Monday, and as Central will still be closed next week too, it’ll be another trip to Waverley for me. If it works the same I may prefer travelling this way.

 

[route101]

Worked perfectly well for me today! And Motherwell could be better for passengers travelling to locations south of Glasgow who can avoid the city altogether and travel onwards by bus, taxi, or being picked up. Also, diverting additional Avanti trains to Edinburgh causes issues of capacity there, whereas a train terminating at Motherwell can run forward empty to Polmadie before returning for the next working.

Booking flexible tickets such as the Glasgow to Preston Day return online on early services, it will select the first service from Motherwell with connection from Glasgow.

 

[Falcon1200]

Try catching a 3 car train then. Particularly 2F07 0717 from Motherwell.

The busyness of that particular train is surely nothing to do with having to accommodate passengers from a terminated Avanti service?!!

 

[Peter0124]

The busyness of that particular train is surely nothing to do with having to accommodate passengers from a terminated Avanti service?!!

Exactly, no Avanti service arrives at that time of morning.

I will say, I'm onboard one of the Hamilton Circle services just now, and its wedged, especially as Motherwell are playing Celtic at home alongwith displaced Avanti pax with large suitcases.

 

[Buzby]

Only sensible if Avanti actually run trains to Edinburgh.

Not really - I travelled to Edinburgh on XC not AWC. Staff realised the destination was Glasgow Central and were accommodating.

 

[Buzby]

Even the cheapest Premier Inn rates allow amendment until 1pm on the day of arriva

But not cancellation? I assumed if you booked the basic (non Flex) rate you were stuffed if you did not occupy when you said you would.

 

[Bletchleyite]

But not cancellation? I assumed if you booked the basic (non Flex) rate you were stuffed if you did not occupy when you said you would.

Not cancellation but you can rebook, repeatedly if you want, provided it is done by 1300 on the booked day of arrival. You can get a partial refund by finding the cheapest date to move it to (look for a Thursday or Sunday night a few months out) as they refund the difference if the new night(s) are cheaper. There is no change fee, just the difference in price.

There is a "non flex" rate that can neither be rebooked nor refunded, but that isn't always offered, in my observation only very close to the day of arrival - I've always seen it booking on the day but near enough never do if booking a few weeks out or more.

Travelodge aren't as generous, there's a £10 fee and they don't refund the difference if cheaper, so you want to look for a night that costs the same.