Summary

  • Scotland's busiest railway station is expected to stay closed on Tuesday after a major blaze which gutted a neighbouring building

  • Businesses based in the Victorian property have been describing their devastation at the destruction of the building

  • No trains are running to or from the high-level platforms at Glasgow Central Station, while trains will not stop at the low-level platforms

  • Network Rail said it had not identified any significant damage to the station itself, but there is no estimate on when the station will reopen

  • The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service says eight appliances, including three high-reach vehicles, remain at the scene

  • First Minister John Swinney said there was enormous disruption to travel but that "intense efforts" were under way to get services back to normal

Live Reporting

Edited by Catherine Lyst and Katy Scott

  1. Station likely to remain closed on Tuesday
    Breaking

    A spokesperson for Network Rail said the station would be likely to remain closed on Tuesday and all train services would be suspended.

    “While the fire is now under control, emergency services are still on site and we continue to support their response," they said in a statement.

    “The station will remain closed today and likely tomorrow. Timescales for reopening will only be confirmed once we are able to safely gain access and carry out the necessary checks."

    The spokesperson added: “All services to and from Glasgow Central are currently suspended, and passengers should continue to follow alternative travel arrangements as advised by their train operators.

    “We will provide further updates as soon as more information is available.”

  2. In pictures: At the scene this morning

    Firefighter wearing protective gear including an orange face mask and a high‑visibility vest standing on a wet street in Glasgow, with a fire engine and emergency scene in the background.PA Media

    Firefighters continue to damp down the remains of the fire on Monday morning.

    Aerial firefighting platform spraying water onto a smoke‑filled building in Glasgow, with heavy haze obscuring surrounding structures.PA Me

    A specialist height platform is used to damp down the remains of a fire using a remotely controlled hose.

    Fire hoses stretched across a wet roadway on Hope Street in Glasgow, with emergency workers in high‑visibility clothing standing near historic stone buildings and traffic signs.PA Media

    Roads are still closed around Glasgow Central Station where the emergency services are working. Water was pumped from the River Clyde overnight to help extinguish the blaze.

    Three aerial ladders dampen down at the scene. There are fire engines and firefighters at the scene.PA Media

    Nine fire appliances were still at the scene this morning. At the height of the fire there were 18.

    Police officers and emergency workers stand behind cordons on Renfield Street, Glasgow. The air is filled with heavy smoke, with surrounding buildings, scaffolding, tents, and traffic lights visible during an active incident response. Rapid Relief Team tents and a trailer are erected in front of the bus gate sign.PA Media

    Police and a Rapid Relief Team are supporting the firefighters during the operation to deal with the aftermath of the blaze which gutted and partially demolished a building next to the major railway station.

    Rubble from the collapsed Victorian sandstone building lies in the street next to the railway station's Union Street entrance as firefighters continue to damp down the smoking structure.PA Media

    Rubble from the collapsed Victorian sandstone building lies in the street next to the railway station's Union Street entrance as firefighters continue to damp down the smoking structure.

    Close-up of rubble that has spilled onto the pavement. There are also shop fronts and emergency vehicles on the image.PA Media

    The fire has caused major disruption in the city

  3. Analysis

    Glasgow Central Station: Usually the busiest train station in Scotland

    David Henderson
    BBC Scotland correspondent

    Each day about 70,000 passengers start and end their journeys at Central Station.

    The grand Victorian terminus is one of the UK's most important transport hubs, and it's Scotland's busiest station by passenger numbers.

    It's the rail gateway to England, through the West Coast Main line.

    But for most of its passengers, it's a suburban and regional commuter hub.

    So with Central Station closed, key transport arteries across the west of Scotland are blocked.

    The top journey from Glasgow Central in 2024/25 was to Paisley Gilmour Street with 757,000 journeys.

    London Euston accounted for around 370,000 journeys.

    And there are dozens of other suburban routes feeding Central.

    The overwhelming majority of its services are operated by ScotRail - suburban services to Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Inverclyde, the Argyle Line, and Renfrewshire.

    The low-level station beneath is critical for cross-city travel, linking the north and south of Glasgow via the Argyle Line.

    Glasgow relies on those thousands of commuters to drive its economy, which makes it imperative to get the station open as quickly as possible.

    An alternative for affected passengers is a longer journey into Glasgow by bus - a slower option for many.

  4. Before and after...Union Corner devastated

    Before and after shots of Union Corner in Glasgow, with firefighters still working

    Before and after shots of Union Corner in Glasgow

  5. WATCH: Bystanders attempt to extinguish Glasgow City centre fire

    Bystanders attempt to extinguish Glasgow City centre fire and call the emergency services

    Here is some footage of bystanders attempting to extinguish the blaze in Glasgow City centre.

  6. 'Firefighters are still working on the blaze'

    Jonathan Geddes
    Reporting from Glasgow city centre

    Fire engines dowsing fire

    Thick smoke surrounds the scene where the building next to Glasgow Central collapsed last night.

    Firefighters are still working on the blaze, but it appears under control now, with a steady stream of onlookers and passers-by stopping on Gordon Street and Renfield Street for a look.

    Police have been telling curious locals they still don’t know where the fire started, despite the assumption that it began in a vape shop.

  7. X’s Grok chatbot criticised for labelling user images 'AI fakes'

    Liv McMahon
    Technology reporter

    People have been sharing images and videos from the scene of the Glasgow fire overnight on social media.

    But some content on X has been labelled “AI fakes” by the platform’s chatbot Grok.

    Grok is frequently tagged in replies to X posts by users trying to check claims or content.

    But when asked by users on Sunday to confirm if images showing the blaze engulfing the building on Union Street were real, it confidently said some were in fact AI-generated, “common fake fire memes” or “exaggerated fakes”.

    While frequently citing reports from mainstream outlets saying the contrary, Grok said verified images showed no dome on the building and it hadn't actually collapsed.

    Some users spent yesterday evening arguing with the chatbot about its errors - some of which Grok refused to budge on and some of which it later corrected. The BBC has asked X for comment.

    It’s not the first time Grok has been mired in controversy, and highlights how when trying to make sense of breaking news, generative AI tools are prone to stating inaccuracies in a matter-of-fact way which makes the task of telling what is and isn’t real online even tricker.

    grok

  8. Nine fire engines remain at the scene

    Firefighters are continuing to work at the site of the blaze more than 18 hours after the fire began in a vape shop on Union Street.

    A call handler in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Johnstone control room confirmed at 10:00 that nine fire engines and a specialist height appliance remained at the scene. There were 18 vehicles on the scene at the height of the fire.

    The SFRS response to the incident was reduced earlier this morning.

    Members of the public are still advised to avoid the area where possible.

  9. Glasgow Fire: Travel disruption summary

    All train services at Glasgow Central, Scotland's busiest station, are cancelled on Monday after the huge fire caused a building to collapse.

    National Rail said the station would remain closed "until further notice".

    ScotRail said no services would operate to or from the high-level platforms at Glasgow Central on Monday.

    Trains will also not stop at low level platforms, but will pass through the station to stop at nearby Argyle Street and Anderston stations.

    There will be limited replacement buses available for some services.

    ScotRail said it would update passengers on social media, on its website and on its app.

    Avanti West Coast said passengers could use tickets at no extra cost on LNER services between Edinburgh and London King's Cross.

    TransPennine Express said services between Glasgow Central and Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Airport would not run on Monday.

    First Bus Greater Glasgow said there would be disruption to multiple services.

  10. Eyewitness tried to fight fire in the vape shop

    Lamin Kongira

    Lamin Kongira

    Eyewitness Lamin Kongira told BBC Scotland he had seen the fire start on Sunday afternoon.

    He says he was walking past the vape shop on Union Street when a shopkeeper ran out saying "fire, fire".

    "I ran into the shop and I saw a small fire under the counter," he said.

    He then dashed next door to the Subway sandwich shop to get help.

    Lamin says he came back with a fire extinguisher and tried to fight the fire.

    He describes two explosions in the vape shop before he turned and shouted at passers by to "get back".

    Lamin - originally from Gambia but living in Glasgow since 2009 - said: "We tried to find a way to sort it out."

    "What was going through my head was the survival of people."

    He added that after firefighters turned up and started battling the blaze he "had to stand and watch".

    "It was horrible," he said.

  11. FM says the incident in Glasgow is a 'very, very significant fire'

    First Minister John SwinneyPA Media

    First Minister John Swinney will travel to the scene of the fire in central Glasgow

    John Swinney will travel to Glasgow Central Station later today to survey the damage and discuss recovery with Glasgow City Council and other stakeholders.

    At a speech in Kilmarnock, the first minister described the incident as a “very, very significant fire” but said there had been no serious injuries

  12. Glasgow fire: The headlines

    If you're just joining us, here is a quick rundown of the key lines that have emerged from the dramatic fire next to Glasgow Central Station that caused a building to partially collapse:

    • The fire started in a vape shop at 15:45 on Union Street on Sunday afternoon, with the B-listed Victorian building collapsing several hours later as flames spread.
    • ScotRail says no trains will operate in or out of Glasgow Central, Scotland's busiest station, today
    • There will be limited replacement transport available
    • The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service says its response to the incident had been reduced on Monday morning.
    • The SFRS also says members of the public are still advised to avoid the area where possible
    • No injuries have been reported
    • There were 18 vehicles on the scene at the height of the fire
    • Network Rail said the station would remain closed "until further notice"
    • First Minister John Swinney said he was "deeply concerned" by the scenes

    Stick with us and we'll bring you the latest from the scene and the impact of this devastating fire.

  13. Map of the building which has been destroyed by fire

    A 3D image, generated from satellite images, showing Glasgow Central Station and the building in the same block which was on fire overnight. We are looking in a south-west direction from above the city at a satellite image from 2024. The building which was on fire is situated right next to the main entrance of the station on the corner of a long, unbroken row of buildings running up the east side of the station building parallel with the tracks. The five-storey, stone building has multiple retail spaces at ground level extending south and west from the crossroads and a grey dome on the corner of the building rises above the slate roof. The 19th century Grand Central Hotel next door, which forms the northern facade of the train station, is two storeys taller with a high gabled roof full of windows protruding from the garret rooms. Behind the hotel the huge glass roof of the station, formed of multiple smaller glass peaks running in parallel with the tracks. It covers all the platforms, with the train tracks seen curving out of station at the top of the image. Image source: Google.

    The building that has been destroyed by fire is on the corner of Union Street and Gordon Street in Glasgow city centre.

    The Union Corner building, which dates from 1851, is actually connected to Glasgow Central Station, one of the busiest railway stations in the UK.

    The map above shows the location of the fire, which is next to the main entrance to the railway station.

    The lower floors of the building contain many businesses such as the famous Blue Lagoon chip shop.

    The dome of the building, a well-known feature of this part of town, was completely destroyed by the fire and later collapsed as the blaze spread through the building.

  14. 'It's devastating watching your business go up in flames'

    Emma Taff, whose business Tafftastic Nails was based in the building destroyed on Union Street, tells Radio Scotland Breakfast that she is "good, all things considered" but adds that it's "just devastating".

    "Everything went, everything was up in flames as of last night and it's devastating watching your business go up in flames and there's nothing you can do," she says. "So many other small businesses had to watch that as well."

    She goes on to say it did not feel real and it felt like she was "watching a film of this horrific thing happening".

    She says her "heart breaks" for everyone affected.

    "It's absolutely catastrophic for so many people."

    However, she adds that the "beauty of social media" has resulted in lots of people contacting her. She has launched a GoFundMe page and has already had a number of donations.

    "It's just incredible what people are willing to help with," she says.

  15. Bus disruption after major fire

    Union Street in Glasgow is shut after a major fire which has closed Glasgow Central train station.

    The street is a major route for bus services which have been disrupted by the closure.

    A First Bus spokesperson said: 'We can confirm the Glasgow Central fire will affect our services in the Glasgow area and we advise our passengers to look closely at our app and website for live updates on our services.

    "At present, our immediate and top priority is ensuring passengers and staff are safe, as well as minimising disruption as best we can."

  16. Have you been affected by the fire next to Glasgow Central Station?

    Have your travel plans been disrupted or your business affected by the fire next to Glasgow Central Station? Did you witness the blaze? Do you have photos or videos you would like to share?

    You can contact us in the following ways:

    Your Voice banner

  17. Fire aftermath

    The fire has caused massive disruption in the city centre this morning.

    It has destroyed a Victorian building next to Glasgow Central Station which housed a number of businesses. A large dome on top of the building collapsed last night.

    Thousands of commuters have been affected with the station and roads closed.

    There is still a large police presence at the scene as firefighters continue to tackle the blaze.

    Burnt-out building
    Police officers on the street with smoke surrounding the burnt-out building in the background
    People on a street looking at firefighters on a high ladder surrounded by smokePA Media

  18. 'A very, very challenging day for the police'

    David Threadgold, national chairman of The Scottish Police Federation

    David Threadgold, national chairman of The Scottish Police Federation

    As well as the serious fire on Union Street last night, the police had to also deal with the violent scenes that took place at ibrox, as fans clashed on the pitch after Celtic knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup.

    David Threadgold, national chairman of The Scottish Police Federation, tells Radio Scotland Breakfast the violence and hostility shown to officers and stewards at Ibrox was "simply unacceptable".

    Turning to the fire in the centre of Glasgow, he says it was a tragic incident but fortunately no-one was injured.

    He says there were so many extra officers at Ibrox that it actually made the policing of the cordons around the fire easier.

    "In that type of situation the police response is to create a safe working environment for fire and rescue colleagues to do what it is that they need to do," he says.

    "A very, very challenging day for the police and by extension our emergency services colleagues," he adds.

  19. Glasgow fire: Timeline

    glasgow fire

    The fire was reported at 15:45 on Sunday

    • Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at a vape shop in Glasgow's Union Street at about 15:45 on Sunday.
    • Shortly afterwards, dozens of firefighters were seen (above) tackling the smoke that was billowing from a narrow doorway.
    • \Explosions were heard within the building and flames were seen shooting from the B-listed structure which dates from 1851.
    • The building is adjacent to Glasgow central Station, Scotland's busiest rail station.
    • At about 20:00, as the flames spread to the upper floors and the dome of the building, there was a partial collapse.
    • Firefighters continued to tackle the blaze throughout the night and it is still a live operation 16 hours after it was first reported.

  20. 'It was horrible'

    Crowds watch the fire in the centre of Glasgow

    Crowds gathered last night to watch the blaze next to Central Station in Glasgow

    Radio Scotland Breakfast has just heard from Elinor Lewis who studies at Glasgow University and saw the huge fire unfold.

    "It was horrible, I was on the bus with my friend at the front and suddenly we turned a corner and the whole sky was orange," she said.

    "It was like smoke billowing everywhere, there were cars gridlocked, we could tell immediately that something really bad had happened."

    Elinor said it was like every emergency service in the city was out in Glasgow last night dealing with the fire.

    She added that none of her friends would be able to travel into Glasgow for university today.