Glasgow Central Services Return to Normal Timetable: What This Means for Your Journey

Anyone who’s been trying to get a train in or out of Glasgow lately will know it’s been a bit of a faff. Following a pretty serious fire in a building next to the city's main station, travel has been up in the air. But there's some good news on the horizon. As of Wednesday 25 March, things are finally getting back to how they should be. TransPennine Express has announced that its services are running to the normal timetable again, all thanks to the full reopening of the high-level platforms at Glasgow Central Station. It's a huge sigh of relief for thousands of commuters and travellers who rely on these routes every single day.

So what was all the disruption about?

Remember that big fire near Glasgow Central Station a few weeks ago? Well, it wasn't just a small incident. A blaze in a neighbouring building caused some major headaches for the station, leading to significant disruption. For safety reasons, the high-level platforms had to be closed completely, and access to other parts of the station was severely restricted.

The high-level platforms are the main platforms at Glasgow Central, the ones that serve the long-distance routes connecting Scotland with major cities down south. When they're out of action, it causes a massive knock-on effect. For weeks, passengers have faced cancellations, delays, and last-minute platform changes. The return of the normal timetable marks an important step forward in getting the city moving properly again after this unexpected incident.

Back on track with the normal timetable

The best news is that the wait is over. From Wednesday 25 March, TransPennine Express services are back to their usual rhythm. The full reopening of the high-level platforms means that trains can arrive and depart as scheduled, which is exactly what everyone has been waiting for. Engineers and safety experts have been working around the clock to ensure the station is safe for both staff and the public.

A quick heads-up about getting into the station

While the trains are running on time, it’s not a complete return to how things were just yet. Public safety is still the top priority, so there are a few temporary changes to how people can get into Glasgow Central Station. An exclusion zone is still in place around the area that was most affected by the fire.

Because of this exclusion zone, two of the main entrances to the high-level station will remain closed for a while longer. Here are the ones to be aware of:

• The Gordon Street entrance

• The Union Street entrance

These will stay shut until further notice. So, if you usually use these doors to get to your platform, you'll need to find an alternative route for now.

A big thank you for everyone's patience

Dealing with unexpected travel chaos is never fun, and both the station authorities and TransPennine Express have given a huge thank you to all their partners and customers. They’ve acknowledged the patience everyone has shown over the past few weeks. When something like a major fire causes such significant disruption, it takes a massive team effort to sort things out and keep people moving. From the emergency services who tackled the blaze to the rail staff who managed the crowds and provided information, everyone has played their part.