A major fire broke out near Glasgow Central Station on Sunday, leading to widespread disruption across Scotland’s rail network.
The blaze, which started in a vape shop on Union Street at around 3:45 pm, quickly spread to the four-storey B-listed Victorian building known as Union Corner.
The building, located at the junction of Union Street and Gordon Street, partially collapsed as flames engulfed its dome, leaving onlookers stunned. Despite the intensity of the fire, no injuries have been reported.
The fire consumed the building for several hours, with dark smoke visible across Glasgow city centre. Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos and awe as the dome collapsed amid flames.
Michelle Cohen, a local artist with a studio across Union Street, expressed her heartbreak at the loss of the familiar skyline. “It’s the heart of the city and it’s gone,” she said, reflecting the impact on the community.
Other bystanders reported audible gasps when the dome gave way, highlighting the dramatic and terrifying nature of the blaze.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service responded swiftly, deploying fifteen appliances including three high-reach vehicles.
Firefighters worked through the night, controlling the blaze and continuing their efforts into the early hours of Monday morning.
The fire was finally brought under control by midnight, although thick smoke continued to pour from the building, and crews remained on site to fully extinguish any remaining hotspots. The service confirmed that there were no casualties and emphasized that operations were ongoing.
Glasgow Central Station, Scotland’s busiest railway station and the fourth busiest in the UK outside London, was forced to close for the entirety of Monday. All high-level train services were cancelled, while trains running through the low-level platforms did not stop.
The disruption has had a significant impact on services across the ScotRail network and on routes to England. ScotRail advised passengers to check for updates before traveling and highlighted that very limited replacement transport was in place.
Services from Glasgow Queen Street remained unaffected, but trains to and from Glasgow Central were either cancelled or rerouted.
Ayrshire train services were particularly affected, with some routes terminating at Paisley Gilmour Street or Kilwinning, and others cancelled altogether.
Services from Largs to Glasgow were limited to Kilwinning, while trains from Ardrossan Harbour and South Beach, as well as Auchinleck and Kilmarnock, were cancelled.
Passengers were advised that replacement buses were available at certain locations, although availability remained limited.
Network Rail reported that there was no significant damage to the Central Station building itself, though the surrounding exclusion zone has affected access to the area. First Minister John Swinney expressed his concern over the fire and thanked emergency services for their rapid response.
Glasgow City Council confirmed that building control services would not be able to access the site until the fire was fully extinguished and that road closures would remain in place for the foreseeable future.
The Union Corner building, constructed in 1851 by architect James Brown for Francis Orr & Sons, was home to several commercial premises, including a fish and chip shop and a café. It was a notable feature of the Glasgow skyline, recognized for its distinctive dome and historic significance.
The fire has sparked conversations about urban safety, heritage preservation, and recovery plans for both the affected buildings and the transport network.
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