Scotland's busiest train station shut as fire causes massive disruption

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - GLASGOW — A massive fire near one of Scotland’s busiest train stations has engulfed a historic building in Glasgow, causing it to partially collapse.

The fire started in a vape shop on the ground floor of the four-story commercial building on Union Street on Sunday afternoon. The B-listed Victorian building collapsed several hours later as flames spread.

All train services at Glasgow Central, Scotland's busiest station, are expected to be canceled until at least the end of Monday. National Rail said there was "no estimate on when the station will reopen".

Dozens of firefighters scrambled at Union Street just before 4 p.m. Sunday after the fire started.

Dramatic images captured orange flames curling around a domed roof beneath the night sky, as a silhouetted crane directed a water jet over the raging blaze.

Specialist equipment was used to tackle the inferno. No casualties have been reported so far.

“At its height, 18 appliances and specialist resources, including three high-reach vehicles, were mobilized to the scene,” the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said at 2 a.m. local time, with the fire still burning after 10 hours.

In video circulating on social media and verified by CNN, thick smoke is seen billowing from a shop doorway. A person briefly sprays a fire extinguisher into the smoke before being pulled away by onlookers.

“Oh my God, it’s like an explosion,” a voice says in the clip while calling emergency services.

Loud bangs and sirens sound in the background before a police van arrives on the scene.

BBC staff at the scene described seeing the dome on the corner of the building falling in during the inferno.

They added that four floors of the building appeared to still be standing, with embers of the blaze visible inside them.

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The Sexy Coffee shop, based in the building, posted that it had been destroyed.

They said: "We are absolutely devastated to confirm that the shop has sadly been destroyed in the fire.

"It is heartbreaking for us and our team, especially after the support and loyalty we have received from so many of you over the years."

The owner of the Willow hair salon posted saying that her business had been burned to the ground as a result of the blaze.

The Voco Grand Central Hotel at the station has been evacuated, with everyone moved to another hotel in the city.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney expressed deep concern over the fire and thanked emergency crews for their ongoing response in a post on X late Sunday, local time.

“Please continue to follow travel guidance, avoid the area and stay safe,” Swinney added.

Glasgow Central has regular rail services across the United Kingdom including direct links to Edinburgh and London.

It has been closed for now and major disruptions to train services have been reported, according to Britain’s National Rail.

The station was built in 1873, according to Network Rail which described it as “a stunning, historic building.” It refers to the station as the busiest in Scotland on its website.

Glasgow Central originally opened with eight platforms, it adds.

This was part of wider efforts to contend with Glasgow’s rapidly increasing population, driven by rapid industrialization including the success of the city’s shipbuilding industry on the River Clyde. — Agencies