Ongoing Disruption at Glasgow Central Affecting Northern Journeys

Anyone planning a train journey in or out of Glasgow recently might have found their plans thrown a bit of a wobbly. A fire near the railway on Sunday, 8th March, has caused some serious knock-on effects, leading to major disruption at one of Scotland's busiest hubs, Glasgow Central. This has meant a lot of head-scratching for passengers, especially those using TransPennine Express services. The good news is, there's a plan in place to help customers navigate the chaos. Here’s the lowdown on what’s happening, how it affects your journey, and what you can do about it. The situation is ongoing, and it's important to have the latest information before you travel.

What's the story at Glasgow Central?

So, what actually happened? Following a fire near the tracks on Sunday, 8 March, a big part of the city's main station had to be closed. Specifically, Glasgow Central High Level station is the part that’s out of action. Think of a station like Glasgow Central as having different levels, a bit like a multi-storey car park. The High Level platforms are typically for the longer-distance trains that head south towards England, while the Low Level ones handle more of the local routes around the city. When the High Level station closes, it’s a bit like shutting a major motorway – it causes a traffic jam for trains across the network.

Right now, a team effort is underway to get things back to normal. Network Rail, the people who look after the tracks and signals, are working closely with Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. They're all putting their heads together to figure out how to safely reopen the station for both passengers and train services. Safety is obviously the number one priority. The current estimate is that the disruption is expected to continue until the very end of Sunday, 15 March. Everyone is hoping for a swift resolution, but for now, passengers need to be aware of the changes. The teams are working hard to provide support to everyone affected.

How this affects TransPennine Express services

If you’ve got a ticket booked with TransPennine Express, this is the bit you'll want to pay close attention to. The closure of the High Level station means that TransPennine Express services are currently unable to run between Glasgow Central and Carlisle in either direction. This is a pretty significant change for anyone travelling between Scotland and the North of England. All train services on this route are impacted.

What does this mean in practice? Well, here’s how the services are changing:

• Glasgow to Manchester/Liverpool journeys: Most train services that would normally run from Glasgow Central to Manchester Airport or Liverpool Lime Street will now start or end their journey at Carlisle. So, if you were planning a trip from Glasgow, you’d need to find a different way to get to Carlisle to catch your train.

• Check before you travel: This is the golden rule right now. For all customers travelling to or from Glasgow, checking your journey before you leave the house is absolutely essential.

It’s also worth knowing that the disruption might have a ripple effect on other routes. Because many train crew members are based in Glasgow, getting them to the right place to start their shifts can be tricky. This means there could be short-notice delays and cancellations on the following routes as well. So, even if you’re not travelling directly from Glasgow Central, your journey might still be affected. It's a good idea to maintain awareness of the situation. The disruption to these train services could continue for a few more days, so having up-to-date information is key. The following services are also potentially impacted:

• Edinburgh – Manchester Airport

• Edinburgh – Newcastle

Your guide to alternative routes

Okay, so your original plan is out the window. What now? Don't panic. While TransPennine Express can't get into Glasgow Central station, there are a number of alternative routes you can take, and the various train companies are working together as industry partners to help customers complete their journeys. Your existing ticket will be valid on these other services, so you won’t have to pay any extra.

Here are some of the main alternative routes available:

• The Motherwell Connection: You can get a ScotRail train from Glasgow Central Low Level station or Argyle Street station (which is just a short walk away) to Motherwell. From Motherwell, you can then hop on an Avanti West Coast service heading south. If you’re going to Manchester, for example, you can change at Preston for TransPennine Express or Northern services.

• Using Your Ticket on Other Services: Your ticket is also a bit of a golden ticket on other operators right now. You can use it at no extra cost on these services in both directions:

  • TransPennine Express services between Edinburgh and Preston / Manchester Airport.

  • Avanti West Coast services between Edinburgh or Motherwell and Preston.

  • Northern services between Preston and Manchester Airport / Liverpool Lime Street.

  • ScotRail services between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh. From Edinburgh, you can then get onward connections with Avanti West Coast, LNER, or CrossCountry.

This level of cooperation provides vital support for passengers caught up in the disruption. It's a good example of industry partners coming together to minimise the impact on customers.

What about your ticket?

It’s completely understandable that customers will be concerned about their ticket and whether they’ll lose money. The train operators have put measures in place to offer flexibility and support. If your journey has been affected by the Glasgow Central disruption, here’s what you need to know about your ticket.

There’s a good deal of flexibility. Any ticket purchased for travel on dates between Monday, 9 March and Sunday, 15 March 2026 (inclusive) can be used to travel up to and including Tuesday, 17 March 2026. This gives you a bit of breathing room to change your plans without having to buy a new ticket. So, if your original service is cancelled, you can travel a day or two later once things are hopefully calmer.

But what if you can't travel at all? If the service you planned to use is cancelled, or if the disruption means you simply can't complete your journey, you are entitled to a full refund. You can apply for this from wherever you originally bought your ticket, whether that was online, at a station, or through a third-party retailer. This ensures that customers are not left out of pocket due to a situation that is beyond their control. The important thing is to keep checking for the latest information to make the best decision for your journey.