Glasgow’s Union Street fully reopens four months after major fire

Roads around Glasgow’s Union Street have reopened four months after a devastating fire.

Parts of the street, which is a major bus route in the city centre, had been blocked off since the blaze wrecked a B-listed Victorian building on 8 March.

The street, which includes the Union Street and Gordon Street entrances to Glasgow Central Station, were reopened at 12:00.

It comes exactly a week before the Commonwealth Games begin on 23 July.

During a visit to the site on Thursday, the Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “The devastating fire which took place earlier this year really impacted on a number of local businesses, and of course the operations of Glasgow Central station behind me.

“It’s been a great opportunity this morning to have a walk around the site, which is dramatically different from what it looked like earlier this year, but also to see the reopening that’s happening around about the station, looking really fantastic, gearing up for the Commonwealth Games, which of course kick off next week.”

Joanne Maguire, managing director of ScotRail, said it was a “great day for staff and passengers”.

She said: “There’s been a phenomenal amount of work done by Glasgow City Council, by Network Rail Scotland colleagues, and by ScotRail to ensure that we have the station fully reopened before the Commonwealth Games and the summer of sport.

“We’re hugely thankful to our passengers for their patience since the Union Street fire in March.”