Glasgow Central - Stairs down from platform level

[Russel]

Had a trip to Glasgow yesterday and spotted the closed off stairs down from the high level platforms 9/10, presumably there are stairs down from other platforms in a similar position too...

Where did they lead to?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Presumably was either to the low level platforms on the Argyle Line or to an exit at street level (Argyle Street or Midland Street)?

 

[Peter0124]

Apparently there used to be an underpass connecting the platforms. Would've been nice to keep it and improve interchanging

 

[hexagon789]

Had a trip to Glasgow yesterday and spotted the closed off stairs down from the high level platforms 9/10, presumably there are stairs down from other platforms in a similar position too...

Where did they lead to?

There's stairs down from some of the other high-level platforms too.

When I asked my grandad about the stairs some years ago he said you could use it many years ago to either reach the underground platforms (low-level lines, not the Subway!) or the toilets depending which way you went.

Actually if you search on Flickr, when the Low Level re-opened in 1979, access was from what is now the Greggs at the entry to Platforms 9 & 10, with the location of the current escalator/stairs access being a branch of Menzies (the stationary/bookseller/newsagents bought out by WHSmith in the 90s I think it was).

 

[Russel]

Thanks for the history here, it's quite an interesting station.

I'll have to see if Network Rail still do tours.

 

[hexagon789]

I'll have to see if Network Rail still do tours.

They do.

 

[alxndr]

Doesn’t show the stairs, however this old fire insurance plan might be of interest. Quite confusing though as it seems to attempt to show every level at the same time!

View map: Goad, Charles E., 1848-1910, Charles Goad Fire Insurance Plan of Glasgow - Vol. I, sheet 11 - Charles Goad Fire Insurance Plans of Scottish Towns, 1880s-1940s

Unfortunately I think the stairs would be on sheet 4, which isn’t in the National Library of Scotland’s collection.

 

[SC318250]

They have been used previously to segregate football fans in the past

 

[CEN60]

From a vague memory - do the stairs from the high level platforms not connect to somewhere around where the the low level booking office is now?

 

[Buzby]

From a vague memory - do the stairs from the high level platforms not connect to somewhere around where the the low level booking office is now?

No, they didn’t - the passageway linking most of the platform stairways actually connected with a srperate gateline and small ticket office in Hope Street. I’ve no data on when this exit closed (it was between the old taxi entrance and the Red Star office).

I’ve been down there (legally) in 2014, and the western end where there were originally steps down to Hope Street has been bricked up to create a retail space to the street. The porcelain signage still exists complete with ‘hand’ direction indicators on the tile work, they’ve lasted but the later 50’s signage is mostly gone - this reflected that there was no longer a ’Way Out’. I doubt it will ever reopen due to the lack of step-free options.

it did not connect to Central LL.

 

[james73]

No, they didn’t - the passageway linking most of the platform stairways actually connected with a srperate gateline and small ticket office in Hope Street. I’ve no data on when this exit closed (it was between the old taxi entrance and the Red Star office).

I’ve been down there (legally) in 2014, and the western end where there were originally steps down to Hope Street has been bricked up to create a retail space to the street. The porcelain signage still exists complete with ‘hand’ direction indicators on the tile work, they’ve lasted but the later 50’s signage is mostly gone - this reflected that there was no longer a ’Way Out’. I doubt it will ever reopen due to the lack of step-free options.

it did not connect to Central LL.

Did the Eastern end not original lead to an exit on Union Street, where the current building that has the Cathouse nightclub in? I'm sure I read that before somewhere.

 

[hexagon789]

it did not connect to Central LL.

Yet, if you look down the stairs on Plats. 9 & 10, you can just make out an old sign which reads: "TO LOW LEVEL".

 

[Buzby]

Did the Eastern end not original lead to an exit on Union Street, where the current building that has the Cathouse nightclub in? I'm sure I read that before somewhere.

The passageway didn’t run the entire length - I do not recall P1&2 or P3&4 having any steps down From P5&6 you could decend but could only turn right (westwards) once you reached the passageway. A further point to note is the station undercroft does not run out to Renfield Street (in a similar fashion to Hope Street). Renfield Street has a strip of non-railway buildings. There are only 2 entrances on this side - the existing pedestrian one that takes you through the office building (above) and up a flight of stairs to concourse level and the station proper. The vehicle gate takes you down a ramp, (again through the street building) to reach the station undercroft - and the remnant's of the old Grahamston cobbled street that the station was built over.

It is still possible to use this as a route between Renfield and Hope Streets, but it didn’t connect to any passenge-facing infrastructure. I regularly used it t get to the Red Star collection desk, but the route has since been gated off since this facility shut.

Yet, if you look down the stairs on Plats. 9 & 10, you can just make out an old sign which reads: "TO LOW LEVEL".

That would be correct - as you used to exit Hope Street and went round to the Hielanman’s Umbrella to enter the LL - don’t forget the stairs & escalators at P12&13 were only a new addition when the Argyle Line opened there was no other way to the LL at this locus. When the gateline was removed the LL access ended too.

There was a further cross-concourse passageway, from the entrance to the toilets, across to the original destination board building. Indeed, you could enter the Gents on either side and walk straight through. This was eventually closed off and used as a Train Catering supply dept.

 

[hexagon789]

That would be correct - as you used to exit Hope Street and went round to the Hielanman’s Umbrella to enter the LL - don’t forget the stairs & escalators at P12&13 were only a new addition when the Argyle Line opened there was no other way to the LL at this locus. When the gateline was removed the LL access ended too.

There was a further cross-concourse passageway, from the entrance to the toilets, across to the original destination board building. Indeed, you could enter the Gents on either side and walk straight through. This was eventually closed off and used as a Train Catering supply dept.

Ah, okay that explanation makes sense and covers a few points, so thank you

 

[james73]

That would be correct - as you used to exit Hope Street and went round to the Hielanman’s Umbrella to enter the LL - don’t forget the stairs & escalators at P12&13 were only a new addition when the Argyle Line opened there was no other way to the LL at this locus. When the gateline was removed the LL access ended too.

There was.

 

[Buzby]

There was.

Tks. I first went there in the 60’s and there was no access - I would assume it was blocked off when the LL closed as there was no reason to head below. Can’t remember if there were hoardings blocking it, but when I went back the opening had escalators and the undercroft level had lost some retail space to create a New entrance and ticket office for the Argyle Line.

 

[Bill57p9]

Thanks for the history here, it's quite an interesting station.

I'll have to see if Network Rail still do tours.

I fully recommend the station tour: absolutely fascinating.

 

[james73]

Tks. I first went there in the 60’s and there was no access - I would assume it was blocked off when the LL closed as there was no reason to head below. Can’t remember if there were hoardings blocking it, but when I went back the opening had escalators and the undercroft level had lost some retail space to create a New entrance and ticket office for the Argyle Line.

To me, the photo clearly shows "Exit" and "To Low Level Station". Not one and the same thing.

I think those stairs both took you down towards the Low Level station AND lead you to the exit onto Hope Street/Argyle Street.

 

[Buzby]

I think those stairs both took you down towards the Low Level station AND lead you to the exit onto Hope Street/Argyle Street.

If you look at the stairway, unlike today, it doubled back on itself but I cannot remember if there was 2 or 3 flights (meaning you came out behind where the ticket office now is, and continued down once more to the LL passageway level - I seem to recall the original ticket office was at the wall where the escalators go down to below ground.

The Hope Street opening was there with the usual station shops, but the Argyle Street one was new and I believe this only appeared after the LL reopening, because there was already an access on the south side of Argyle Street directly opposite. With three (or four?) stairs up to the concourse it was quite a slog. Do also remember Hope Street also had a ticket office at the stairs up to the centre platform access points until it got blocked off for retail development.

 

[9504184b]

From the excellent ’Glasgow Stations’ by Colin Johnstone and John R Hume.
You can see the dotted lines of the cross-passages coming down from the platform stairs.

 

[Buzby]

Interesting - was this proposed or actual? The passageway ‘junctions’ under P3&4 + P7&8 were not visible on my Safari, but it does explain how you could connect to the LL by a ramp to the eastbound platforms, rather than exiting at Hope Street and walking round.

incidentally, the Argyle line only uses the southern island platform as a wall was built to hide the northern island platform along the centreline of the twin tracks. The station tour does take you to this hidden platform (down a metal staircase).