A massive fire at Scotland’s busiest train station forced evacuations and building collapses on Sunday, shutting down Glasgow Central Station through at least Monday evening as crews battled flames for more than 13 hours.

Historic Building Destroyed in Catastrophic Blaze

The fire erupted in a vape shop on Union Street around 3:45 p.m. local time Sunday afternoon, quickly spreading through the Victorian-era building dating back to 1851. Within hours, witnesses described the scene as catastrophic as flames engulfed the structure at the junction of Union Street and Gordon Street. The building’s distinctive dome collapsed during the inferno, with emergency crews observing four floors still standing but filled with visible embers. Multiple businesses, including the Sexy Coffee shop and Willow hair salon, confirmed their destruction in social media posts.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service deployed more than 60 firefighters and 15 vehicles to combat the blaze, including three high-reach vehicles and a water rescue team. Crews continued fighting flames past 5:00 a.m. Monday, more than 13 hours after the initial alert. Authorities evacuated the Voco Grand Central Hotel adjacent to the station, relocating guests to another city location. Police cordoned off streets between Gordon Street and St Vincent Street, urging residents to keep windows closed and avoid the area entirely. No injuries were reported despite the fire’s severity and duration.

Transportation Chaos Hits Scotland’s Busiest Hub

All train services at Glasgow Central Station face cancellation through Monday at a minimum, with National Rail stating no estimated reopening time exists. ScotRail confirmed no services would operate to or from the high-level platforms, while low-level services will bypass the station entirely, stopping instead at Argyle Street and Anderson. Limited replacement transportation will be available, forcing thousands of daily commuters to scramble for alternatives. Service delivery director Mark Ilderton apologized for the massive disruption and urged passengers to verify journey options before traveling.

TransPennine Express canceled all services between Glasgow Central, Liverpool Lime Street, and Manchester Airport for Monday without rail replacement buses. Avanti West Coast offered affected passengers free travel on alternative LNER services between Edinburgh and London King’s Cross. First Minister John Swinney expressed deep concern about the situation, urging citizens to follow emergency service guidance. Network Rail officials conducted a midnight assessment, reporting no significant station damage identified initially, though full evaluation awaited daylight inspection of the historic transportation hub that opened in 1879.