A significant fire in downtown Glasgow severely impacted Scottish train services on Monday as firefighters labored to extinguish the inferno that razed a four-story building near Scotland’s busiest railway hub.
Glasgow Central Station was shut down, causing disruption to all travel to, from, and through the station, with no clear timeline for reopening. The closure was expected to persist for at least another day until Tuesday.
The fire erupted on Sunday afternoon in a vape shop on Union Street adjacent to the station, quickly engulfing the structure, with flames bursting from the roof and windows. The historic building, dating back to 1851, collapsed during the night, leaving only its front facade standing.
Scottish Parliament member Paul Sweeney compared the devastation to the aftermath of the Nazi bombings in Britain during 1940-41, describing the scene as a gutted shell resembling the Blitz ruins.
Despite the extensive damage, there were no reported injuries, which was a relief, according to Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney. He acknowledged the immense destruction and anticipated significant disruptions, promising government financial aid to support the city’s recovery efforts.
Witnesses behind police cordons expressed shock at the sight of the ruins, with Emma Reid describing it as “so sad” for such an iconic building. Several businesses, including a café, fish and chip shop, and hair salon, were destroyed by the fire, with promises to rebuild from affected owners.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed no injuries resulting from the blaze, as firefighters continued to battle the remnants of the fire on Monday.
