Glasgow Central Set for Full Reopening Ahead of Commonwealth

Scotland's busiest railway station will return to full operation later this month, with all public entrances reopening in time for the Commonwealth Games following months of recovery work after the devastating Union Street fire.

Network Rail has confirmed that Glasgow Central Station will complete the final stage of its recovery programme in July, restoring full access to passengers for the first time since the fire forced significant parts of the station to close earlier this year.

The reopening comes just days before Glasgow welcomes thousands of athletes, officials and spectators for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, where the station is expected to play a central role in moving visitors around the city and beyond.

Final phase of recovery

The recovery programme will be delivered in two stages.

From 13 July, the remaining exclusion zone within the station will be removed, allowing passengers access to the full concourse once again.

A few days later, on 17 July, the Union Street and Gordon Street entrances will reopen, restoring all public access points and returning station operations to normal.

As part of the final changes, the station's carriage driveway will close as normal operating arrangements resume.

In preparation, engineering and operational teams are carrying out final inspections, testing station systems and working alongside retailers to ensure facilities are fully operational before passengers return.

Ready for one of Scotland's biggest events

The timing of the reopening has been carefully planned to ensure Glasgow Central is fully operational ahead of the Commonwealth Games, which begin on 23 July.

As Scotland's busiest railway station, Glasgow Central is expected to experience significantly higher passenger numbers throughout the competition, making the restoration of all entrances an important milestone for both the railway and the city.

Additional railway staff will be deployed across the station to assist passengers and help manage increased footfall during the event.

Months of collaborative recovery

The reopening marks the culmination of several months of recovery work involving Network Rail, ScotRail and other train operators following the fire that affected the station in March.

Throughout the disruption, services continued to operate while temporary arrangements were introduced to maintain access and minimise the impact on passengers.

Liam Sumpter, Managing Director of Network Rail Scotland, described the reopening as a major milestone.

"The reopening of the Union Street and Gordon Street entrances is a significant milestone in Glasgow Central's recovery and means the station will once again be fully open to passengers."

He praised the efforts of railway staff involved in restoring the station.

"Our teams have worked tirelessly over the past few months to prepare for this moment. Thanks to their efforts, we can now welcome passengers back through every entrance and return Scotland's busiest station to normal operation."

Sumpter also thanked passengers, retailers and industry partners for their patience throughout the recovery process.

Industry welcomes restoration

Train operators have welcomed the station's full reopening, highlighting the collaborative effort required to maintain services while recovery works progressed.

Phil Campbell, Customer Operations Director at ScotRail, said:

"The full reopening of Glasgow Central is a significant milestone for Scotland's Railway and everyone who relies on it."

He added that close cooperation between Network Rail and train operators had helped minimise disruption while safely restoring normal operations.

For Caledonian Sleeper, the reopening also marks an important moment for visitors arriving in Scotland by rail.

Managing Director Graham Kelly said the restoration of full station access would improve the experience for guests travelling between London and Glasgow while providing easier access to destinations across the city.

Meanwhile, Mark Green, Station Manager for Avanti West Coast at Glasgow Central, said the reopening represented another important step in the recovery of both the station and the surrounding city centre.

Back to normal

With all entrances reopening and normal passenger flows restored, Glasgow Central will once again operate at full capacity as one of Britain's busiest transport hubs.

For passengers, businesses and the wider railway industry, the reopening represents the successful conclusion of months of recovery work and ensures the station is ready to welcome the world as Glasgow prepares to host one of the biggest sporting events in its recent history.