View source for Glasgow Central railway station

{{short description|Principal railway station in Glasgow, Scotland}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox station
| name               = Glasgow Central
| native_name        = {{lang|gd|Glaschu Mheadhain}}{{sfn|Brailsford|2017|loc=Gaelic/English Station Index}}
| symbol_location    = gb
| symbol             = rail
| image              = Glasgow Central railway station - aerial - 2025-04-17 04.jpg
| caption            = Glasgow Central station in 2025
| borough            = [[Glasgow]], Scotland 
| country            =
| coordinates        = {{coord|55.858|-4.258|type:railwaystation_region:GB_scale:10000|display=inline,title}}
| grid_name          = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|Grid reference]]
| grid_position      = {{gbmapscaled|NS586651|25|NS586651}}
| manager            = [[Network Rail]]
| platforms          = 17 (including 2 on lower level)
| code               = GLC
| zone               = [[ZoneCard|1]]
| transit_authority  = [[Strathclyde Partnership for Transport|SPT]]
| years              = 1 August 1879
| events             = High Level station opened{{sfn|Butt|1995|page=103}}
| years1             = 10 August 1896
| events1            = Low Level station opened{{sfn|Butt|1995|page=103}}
| years2             = 1901–1905
| events2            = High Level station rebuilt
| years3             = 1960
| events3            = Resignalling
| years4             = 5 October 1964
| events4            = Closure of Low Level station{{sfn|Butt|1995|page=103}}
| years5             = May 1974
| events5            = Start of ''Electric Scot'' services to London Euston
| years6             = 5 November 1979
| events6            = Reopening of Low Level station as part of [[Argyle Line]]{{sfn|Butt|1995|page=103}}
| years7             = 1984–1986
| events7            = Refurbished
| years8             = 1998–2005
| events8            = Refurbished
| mpassengers        = 
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2019/20 |passengers={{decrease}} 32.465 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2020/21 |passengers={{decrease}} 5.325 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2021/22 |passengers={{increase}} 15.322 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2022/23 |passengers={{increase}} 20.768 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2023/24 |passengers={{increase}} 24.964 million}}
| footnotes          = Passenger statistics from the [[Office of Rail and Road]]. Station usage figures saw a large decrease in 2020/21 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-zoom      = 14
}}
{{Glasgow Central}}

'''Glasgow Central''' ({{langx|gd|Glaschu Mheadhain}}), usually referred to in Scotland as just '''Central''' or '''Central Station''', is one of two principal main line rail terminals in [[Glasgow]], Scotland. With 25 million passengers in 2023–2024, it is the [[List of busiest railway stations in Great Britain|fifteenth-busiest]] railway station in Britain and the busiest in Scotland, as well as the third busiest station in the UK outside of London, behind {{rws|Birmingham New Street}} and {{stn|Manchester Piccadilly}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Estimates of Station Usage 2023-24 |url=https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage |publisher=Office of Rail & Road |access-date=17 February 2025}}</ref> The station is protected as a [[listed building#Scotland|category A listed building]].<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB33029|desc=71, 97, 99 Gordon St, and 16, 18, 50 Hope St, Central Station & Hotel, (former Caledonian Railway Station)... |cat=A|access-date=20 March 2019}}</ref>

The station was opened by the [[Caledonian Railway]] on 1 August 1879 and is one of 20 managed by [[Network Rail]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/eNRT/May13/Commercial_Information.pdf |title=Commercial information |date=May 2013 |work=Complete National Rail Timetable |publisher=Network Rail |location=London |page=43 |access-date=5 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904231906/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/eNRT/May13/Commercial_Information.pdf |archive-date=4 September 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It is the northern terminus of the [[West Coast Main Line]] ({{convert|397|mi|km|0|disp=or|abbr=off}} north of [[Euston railway station|London Euston]]).<ref name=thomas>Thomas (1971); Chapter VIII&nbsp;– Glasgow</ref> As well as being Glasgow's principal [[inter-city rail|inter-city]] terminus for services to England, Central also serves the southern [[suburb]]s of the [[Greater Glasgow]] [[conurbation]], and the Ayrshire and Clyde coasts. The other main station in the city is {{rws|Glasgow Queen Street}}, which primarily serves regional and inter-city services to the north of Glasgow. The three letter station code is GLC.

In ''Britain's 100 Best Railway Stations'' by [[Simon Jenkins]], the station was one of only ten to be awarded five stars. In 2017, the station received a customer satisfaction score of 95.2%, the highest in the UK.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/article/review-britains-100-best-railway-stations-by-simon-jenkins-w5mjwgvf5 |title=Review: Britain's 100 Best Railway Stations by Simon Jenkins |website=[[The Times]] |access-date=2 January 2018 |archive-date=9 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709155050/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/review-britains-100-best-railway-stations-by-simon-jenkins-w5mjwgvf5 |url-status=live |last=Morrison |first=Richard}}</ref>

==History==
===Original station===
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = {{visible anchor|Caledonian Railway (Gordon Street, Glasgow Station) Act 1873}}
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act for enabling the Caledonian Railway Company to make a Station at Gordon Street, Glasgow, and Connecting Lines between the same and their Railways on the south side of that city; and for other purposes.
| year                  = 1873
| citation              = [[36 & 37 Vict.]] c. clxxxviii
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 21 July 1873
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/36-37/188/pdfs/ukla_18730188_en.pdf
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
The original station, opened on 1 August 1879<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a-VEAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_7YMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2403%2C2106242 Caledonian Railway.{{!}} Opening Of Central Station, Glasgow.], ''The Glasgow Herald'', 1 August 1879</ref> on the north bank of the [[River Clyde]], had eight platforms and was linked to [[Glasgow Bridge Street railway station|Bridge Street station]] by a railway bridge over [[Argyle Street, Glasgow|Argyle Street]] and a four-track railway bridge, built by [[Sir William Arrol]], which crossed the Clyde to the south.<ref name=thomas /> The station was built over the site of Grahamston village, whose central street (Alston Street) was demolished to make way for the station platform.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gilliland |first=Norrie |title=Grahamston: Glasgow's Forgotten Village |url=http://www.grahamston.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=14 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418233851/http://www.grahamston.com/ |archive-date=18 April 2015}}</ref>

The station was soon congested. In 1890, a temporary solution of widening the bridge over Argyle Street and inserting a ninth platform on Argyle Street bridge was completed.<ref name=thomas /><ref name=matheson>Matheson, Donald Alexander (1908). "Glasgow Central Station Extension". In: ''Minutes of [[Institution of Civil Engineers]]'', 10 November 1908.</ref> It was also initially intended to increase Bridge Street station to eight through lines and to increase Central station to 13 platforms.<ref name=thomas />

===Low-level station===
Originally built as a separate station, there were two island platforms making four platform faces, and a siding to the north. The station was built to serve the underground [[Glasgow Central Railway]], authorised on 10 August 1888 and opened on 10 August 1896.<ref name=thomas /><ref name=awdry>Awdry (1990); p77</ref> The Glasgow Central Railway was taken over by the Caledonian Railway in 1890.<ref name=thomas /><ref name=awdry /> Services ran from {{stnlnk|Maryhill Central}} and from the [[Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway]] in the west through to {{stnlnk|Rutherglen}} and via [[Tollcross railway station|Tollcross]] through to {{stnlnk|Carmyle}}, [[Newton (Lanark) railway station|Newton]] and other Caledonian Railway destinations to the east of Glasgow. Other stations include Cambuslang and Motherwell.

===1901–1905 station rebuild===
By 1900, the station was again found to be too small, passenger numbers per annum on the high-level station having increased by 5.156&nbsp;million since the first extension was completed in 1890.<ref name=matheson /> Passenger usage per annum in 1899 was 16.841&nbsp;million on the high-level station and 6.416&nbsp;million on the low-level station, a total of 23.257&nbsp;million.<ref name=matheson /> The station is on two levels: the High-Level station at the same level as Gordon Street, which bridges over Argyle Street, and the underground Low-Level station.

Between 1901 and 1905, the original station was rebuilt.<ref name=thomas /> The station was extended over the top of Argyle Street and thirteen platforms were built.<ref name=thomas /> An additional eight-track bridge, the [[Caledonian Railway Bridge]], was built over the Clyde,<ref name=thomas /> and the original bridge was raised by 30&nbsp;inches (0.75 m).<ref name=hume>Hume (2006), Chapter 1, "Railways and the City". In: Cameron(2006).</ref> [[Bridge Street railway station|Bridge Street station]] was then closed.<ref name=thomas />

Also, during the 1901–1905 rebuild, a series of sidings was created at the end of platforms 11 and 12 on the bridge over the River Clyde. These were named West Bank Siding, Mid Bank Siding and East Bank Siding. A dock siding, No. 14 Dock, was created at the south end of platform 13.<ref name="ModernSig">Tweedie & Lascelles (1925), insert facing page 184</ref>

Central station has a spacious concourse containing shops, catering outlets, ticket offices and a travel centre. It is fronted by the [[Central Hotel (Glasgow)|Central Hotel]] on Gordon Street, designed by [[Robert Rowand Anderson]]. The [[station building]] also houses a long line of shops and bars down the Union Street side. The undercroft of the station is not open to the general public, except through regular official tours,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.glasgowcentraltours.co.uk/about/the-tour/ |title=The Tour – Glasgow Central Tours |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-date=16 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116091114/https://www.glasgowcentraltours.co.uk/about/the-tour/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and houses private car-parking and utility functions for the station and the adjoining Central Hotel.

The station's famous architectural features are the large glass-walled bridge that takes the station building over Argyle Street, nicknamed the '[[Hielanman's Umbrella]]' (Highlandman's Umbrella)<ref name=thomas /> because it was used as a meeting place for [[Scottish Highlands|highlanders]] living in the city;<ref name=Nicolaisen>{{cite book |last=Nicolaisen |first=W.&nbsp;F.&nbsp;H. |author-link=W. F. H. Nicolaisen |title=Scottish Place Names |publisher=John Donald |location=Edinburgh |year=2001 |isbn=0-85976-556-3}}</ref> and the former ticket office and information building. This was a large oval building, with the booking office on the ground floor and the train information display for passengers on large printed cloth destination boards placed behind large windows on the first floor by a team of two men. Underneath the "Umbrella" are a number of shops and bars. [[The Arches (Glasgow)|The Arches]], a one-time nightclub, theatre, gallery and restaurant complex, was also located below the station.

{{wide image|Central station panoramic.JPG|1200px|align-cap=center|View of Central station from 5th floor of [[Radisson SAS]] hotel, with the distinctive facade of the [[Hielanman's Umbrella]] and [[Argyle Street, Glasgow|Argyle Street]] passing under it in the centre, May 2009}}

===Railway electrification===
[[File:GlasgowStationClock2017.jpg|thumb|Roof construction and railway clock]]

[[Railway electrification in Great Britain|Overhead power lines]] began to appear on the high-level platforms in the early 1960s under [[British Railways]]. Firstly came 6.25 kV AC overhead power lines from the [[Cathcart Circle Line]] electrification scheme, which started on 29 May 1962.<ref name=Little>{{cite journal |last=Little |first=Stuart M. |title=Greater Glasgow's Railway Network |journal=Scottish Transport |volume=33 |pages=2–12 |date=December 1979| issn=0048-9808}}</ref><ref name=summers>Summers (2006), Chapter 26: "Changing Trains". In: Cameron (2006).</ref> During this period, the old 1879 bridge over the River Clyde was removed and the railway lines were rearranged.<ref name=nock />

This was followed by the 25 kV AC overhead-power-lines electrification of the [[Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway]] and the [[Inverclyde Line]] to Gourock and Wemyss Bay, completed in 1967.<ref name=Little /> The [[West Coast Main Line|WCML]] northern electrification scheme started on 6 May 1974. Part of the Cathcart Circle was upgraded to 25 kV AC supply in 1974, to provide a diversionary route;<ref name=summers /> the whole of the Cathcart Circle route was later upgraded to that supply.<ref name=summers />

Plans to electrify other routes, such as the [[Whifflet Line]], as part of a scheme to improve rail services in Scotland, were completed in November 2014.

==20th–century==

=== Low-level station ===
[[File:334 Lowlevel.JPG|thumb|right|A Class 334 with an Argyle Line service at Glasgow Central Low-level]]

====Closure====
Services through the Low-Level station, initially generous, had been greatly reduced due to competition with the extensive and efficient Glasgow Corporation tram system well before the withdrawal of service at the Low-Level station on 3 October 1964<ref name=awdry /> under the [[Beeching Axe]]. The trams themselves had been replaced by buses by 1962.

====Reopening====
In 1979, part of the low-level line was electrified and the Low-Level station was re-opened as the [[Argyle Line]] of the Glasgow suburban railway network. It consisted of the southern [[island platform]] with the original northern island platform and siding remaining closed. Changes to the original track layout had to be made to allow the southern island platform to serve eastbound and westbound trains as the platform was previously only served by westbound trains. The reopened island platform was numbered as platforms 14 and 15; they were later renumbered to 16 and 17 respectively when the project to resignal and add two additional platforms to the higher level took place in 2008.

Initially services were provided by [[British Rail Class 303|Class 303]] and [[British Rail Class 314|Class 314]] units. The latter were built specifically for this service. Following the withdrawal of the Class 303 units, the service was provided by [[British Rail Class 318|Class 318]] and [[British Rail Class 334|Class 334 ''Juniper'']] units.

[[British Rail Class 320|Class 320]] units were intended to be used on the route but, due to the position of the original driver's monitors for checking doors, this proved impossible. Therefore, these units were restricted to the [[North Clyde Line]]. This changed in 2011 with a programme of works carried out to enable the Class 320 units to work through the station in passenger service. The Class 320 and 318 units between them now provide the majority of Argyle Line services, with most 334s having moved to operate the [[Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link]].

====Flooding of the Low-Level line====
Over the Christmas festive period of 1994, on 11 December, torrential rain caused the [[River Kelvin]] to burst its banks at the closed [[Kelvinbridge railway station|Kelvinbridge station]], with the water making its way through the disused tunnels to {{stnlnk|Exhibition Centre}} and the Low-Level station,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hiddenglasgow.com/rail/flood1994/index.htm |title=Glasgow Central Low Level Railway Flood / 11 December/12th 1994 |access-date=13 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211093245/http://www.hiddenglasgow.com/rail/flood1994/index.htm |archive-date=11 February 2008 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> which was completely submerged by the resultant flash flood. It was closed until 24 September 1995 while repairs were made.

[[File:Glasgow Central departure board in May 1985.jpg|thumb|right|The Caledonian Railway destination board still in use during the 1985 refurbishment]]
[[File:Departures board, Glasgow Central railway station - DSC06291.JPG|thumb|right|The 2005 LED-style departure board above the ends of platforms 2 to 5]]

In August 2002, torrential rain flooded out the low-level stations from {{Stnlnk|Dalmarnock}} through to {{Stnlnk|Exhibition Centre}} for a number of weeks. Most services were routed to the high-level platforms or to [[Glasgow Queen Street railway station|Queen Street station]]. The [[2002 Glasgow floods]] had a number of other effects, causing a [[cryptospiridium]] outbreak in the city's water supply.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

===Refurbishments===
The high-level station's facilities were substantially redeveloped in the mid-1980s. The old ticket office / train information building was replaced in 1985 by an all-new Travel Centre adjacent to the Gordon Street entrance. By 1986, a large electro-mechanical destination board at the end of the platforms, with a smaller repeater board at the western side of the concourse, had replaced the former manually operated train-information boards. The old booking office / train information building was retained and redeveloped into shops, eateries and an upstairs bar/restaurant, and the station was re-floored in marble. During this redevelopment the staffed ticket barriers at Platforms 1 to 8 were removed and the ''yellow ticket'' automatic barriers were removed from Platforms 9 to 13 (now 15).

In 1998, a five-year renovation programme was initiated by [[Railtrack]], which saw the trainshed completely re-roofed and internally refurbished by [[Bovis Lend Lease]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Winney |first=Mike |title=Dome wins construction world 'Oscar' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2000/10/19/ndom19.xml |url-status=dead |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=19 October 2000 |access-date=30 November 2020 |archive-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130193452/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/?xml=%2Fnews%2F2000%2F10%2F19%2Fndom19.xml}}</ref> – which also included the restoration of Hielanman's Umbrella. The 1980s vintage mechanical pixel-style destination boards were later replaced around 2005 with an array of LED-style destination boards. The final improvement, the upgrading of the upstairs restaurant area, was completed in 2005.

== 21st-century ==

===Layout===
Platform 1 is at the east end and platform 15 is located at the west end of the station; platforms 16 and 17 are directly underneath the station's high level platforms. Platforms 1 and 2 are usually used by longer distance cross-border services operated by [[Avanti West Coast]], [[TransPennine Express]] and [[CrossCountry]], while platforms 3 to 6 are used mainly by services to Lanark, Edinburgh, East Kilbride, Barrhead, Kilmarnock, Carlisle, Girvan, and Stranraer. Platforms 7–10 are used by services which operate along the Cathcart Circle and also Neilston and Newton, but other services are known to use them as well. Platforms 11–15 are used mostly by services to Ayr, Largs, Ardrossan, Gourock, Wemyss Bay and Paisley Canal. Platform 11 is used as a relief platform for Avanti West Coast services if platforms 1 or 2 cannot be used.

All of the high level platforms are divided into three sections: front, middle and rear; these are used when two or three trains are occupying the same platform.

===2009–2010 expansion===
[[File:Glasgow Central Platforms 12-13 on 13 May 2010.JPG|right|thumb|The new platforms 12 and 13 in the first week after being brought into use]]

To accommodate the cancelled [[Glasgow Airport Rail Link]] plans, the platforms were renumbered. Platform 11a (the previous West Bank Siding, on the bridge over the Clyde) was renumbered 12, whilst 12 & 13 were renumbered 14 & 15 respectively. In September 2009 the former platform-level car park and passenger drop-off area was taken out of use and the platform over the Clyde (recently renumbered 12) was removed. Two new platforms were created between 11 and 14, being brought into use in May 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2007/70001--f.htm#sch1 |title=Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act 2007 – Schedule 1 – Scheduled Works |author=Scottish Parliament |date=15 January 2007 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |access-date=21 February 2007 | archive-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130193452/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2007/1/contents#sch1 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2007/70001--n.htm#sch8 |title=Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act 2007 – Schedule 8 – Listed Buildings |author=Scottish Parliament |date=15 January 2007 |publisher=Office of Public Sector Information |access-date=21 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930202121/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2007/70001--n.htm#sch8 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> There is no plan to replace indoor parking or passenger drop-off within Central station. The existing multi-storey parking facility on Oswald Street and on-street parking surrounding Central station remain, with passenger drop-off having moved to surrounding streets.<ref>{{cite web |author=[[Weber Shandwick]] |title=Glasgow Airport Rail Link&nbsp;– Q and A |url=http://shandwick.fs-server.com/spt/uploaded/ufile683.pdf |publisher=Strathclyde Passenger Transport |date=10 February 2007 |access-date=21 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605031827/http://shandwick.fs-server.com/spt/uploaded/ufile683.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=5 June 2007}}</ref> During [[Cyclone Bodil]] in December 2013, the glass roof of the station was broken by flying debris.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.stv.tv/scotland/251681-storm-with-gales-of-up-to-142mph-batter-scotland-causing-disruption/ |title=Storm with gales of up to 142mph batter Scotland causing disruption &#124; Scotland &#124; News &#124; STV |access-date=5 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208041850/http://news.stv.tv/scotland/251681-storm-with-gales-of-up-to-142mph-batter-scotland-causing-disruption/ |archive-date=8 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Barriers===
[[Turnstile|Automatic ticket barriers]] were installed at Glasgow Central and three other city-centre stations from 2011 as part of a crackdown on fare-dodging to increase ticket revenue. This follows barriers being erected at Queen Street station in 2004, ending ScotRail's open stations policy under which staffed and previous ''yellow ticket'' automatic barriers had been scrapped during the 1980s to encourage more passengers; tickets were checked on trains instead. ScotRail finalised negotiations with Network Rail over the project in June 2010,<ref>{{cite news |last=Dalton |first=Alastair |date=19 May 2010 |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh |url=http://news.scotsman.com/transport-news/ScotRail-set-to-create-.6303079.jp |title=ScotRail set to create £5m 'ring of steel' to tackle fare dodging |access-date=16 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523130949/http://news.scotsman.com/transport-news/ScotRail-set-to-create-.6303079.jp |archive-date=23 May 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> with the project completed in February 2012, covering High Level Platforms 3 to 15 and Low Level Platforms 16 and 17.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/GLC/plan.html?rtnloc=GLC |title=Glasgow Central Station Plan |access-date=26 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303134459/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/GLC/plan.html?rtnloc=GLC |archive-date=3 March 2012}}</ref> Platforms 1 and 2 were left without barriers, as they are mostly used by long-distance express services with a high proportion of passengers carrying heavy luggage.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}

=== Recent developments ===
In November 2023, Network Rail renewed the concourse departure screens, replacing the 2005 style boards. The new ones are similar to the screens at Glasgow Queen Street.<ref>{{cite web |title=£13.3m upgrade for customer information in Scotland's busiest stations |url=https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/gbp-13-3m-upgrade-for-customer-information-in-scotlands-busiest-stations |access-date=31 October 2023 |website=Network Rail Media Centre}}</ref> The concourse is due to receive minor refurbishment which will be carried out between late 2023 and late 2024. This work will create better retail space, a new multi faith room and a relocated station reception.<ref>{{cite web |title=£5m Property Upgrade for Glasgow Central Station |url=https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/gbp-5m-property-upgrade-for-glasgow-central-station |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=Network Rail Media Centre}}</ref> Low Level platforms 16 and 17 will be refreshed, similar to the works carried out at [[Anderston railway station|Anderston]] in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 March 2022 |title=Glasgow Central Station to undergo major refurbishment to encourage commuters |url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/19984499.glasgow-central-station-undergo-major-refurbishment/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |website=Glasgow Times}}</ref>

==Features==

===Central Hotel===
{{main|Grand Central Hotel (Glasgow)}}
[[File:(exterior of) Central Station, Glasgow.jpg|thumb|The Gordon Street entrance, with the Central Hotel above it]]

Central station is fronted by the [[Grand Central Hotel (Glasgow)|Central Hotel]] on Gordon Street. Adjoining onto the station concourse, it was one of Glasgow's most prestigious hotels in its heyday.

It was originally designed by [[Robert Rowand Anderson]], in '[[Queen Anne Style architecture|Queen Anne style]]'; he also furnished the public rooms.<ref name=GlasgowStations-38-41>Johnston and Hume (1979), pages 38–41.</ref> The hotel was completed in 1883, but was extended along with the station in 1901–1906.<ref name=GlasgowStations-38-41 /> The hotel extension was designed by [[James Miller (architect)|James Miller]] and it opened on 15 April 1907.<ref name=GlasgowStations-38-41 />

The world's first long-distance television pictures were transmitted to the Central Hotel in the station, on 24 May 1927 by [[John Logie Baird]].<ref>[http://www.scotlandontv.tv/scotland_on_tv/video.html?vxSiteId=60fdd544-9c52-4e17-be7e-57a2a2d76992&vxChannel=History%20Places&vxClipId=1380_SMG1671&vxBitrate=300 Interview with Paul Lyons] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202163233/http://www.scotlandontv.tv/scotland_on_tv/video.html?vxSiteId=60fdd544-9c52-4e17-be7e-57a2a2d76992&vxChannel=History%20Places&vxClipId=1380_SMG1671&vxBitrate=300 |date=2 February 2009}}, historian and Control and Information officer at Glasgow Central Station.</ref> The hotel was sold by [[British Rail]] in the 1980s, and passed through the hands of various private operators until its most recent owner, the Real Hotel Group, went into administration in February 2009, and the hotel subsequently closed amid concerns of [[asbestos]] contamination and structural deterioration.

In June 2009, a new company acquired the hotel building, and worked to refurbish and rebrand it as the '''Glasgow Grand Central Hotel'''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nicoll |first=Viviene |title=Return to Grand Central in £20m hotel revamp |newspaper=The Evening Times |location=Glasgow |url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2516440.0.0.php |date=25 June 2009 |access-date=19 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628184409/http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2516440.0.0.php |archive-date=28 June 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> The refurbished hotel re-opened in September 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clydewaterfront.com/projects/glasgow-city-centre/leisure/grand_central_hotel |title=Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow: Major hotel refurbishment of historic Glasgow hotel |access-date=24 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912144426/http://www.clydewaterfront.com/projects/glasgow-city-centre/leisure/grand_central_hotel |archive-date=12 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021 it was refurbished by [[IHG Hotels & Resorts]] and rebranded [[voco]] Grand Central Hotel.

===Signalling===
[[File:Glasgow Central Station concourse.JPG|thumb|The Edwardian-era booking office and train information building]]

The original 1889 [[signal box]] was replaced with an electro-pneumatic power-operated box based on the [[Westinghouse Rail Systems|Westinghouse]] system.<ref name=nelson>Nelson (2006), Chapter 17: "Signalbox with a view". In: Cameron (2006).</ref> Work started in October 1907 and it opened on 5 April 1908.<ref name=nelson /> It was built directly over the River Clyde, sitting between the two river bridges, above the level of the tracks.<ref name=nelson /> Inside was a frame of 374 miniature levers, making it the longest power frame ever built in Great Britain.<ref name="ModernSig" /><ref name=nock>Nock, O.&nbsp;S.,(1963). ''British Rail in Transition''. Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson and Sons.</ref>

Glasgow Central [[Railway signalling|Signalling]] Centre, located in the "vee" of Bridge Street Junction, opened on 2 January 1961. It replaced signal boxes at Central Station, Bridge Street Junction, Eglinton Street Junction and Eglinton Street Station.<ref name=nock /> When initially opened it was capable of handling 1,000 routes.<ref name=nock />

The new signalling centre was needed for three reasons:

* The 1907 power signal box was worn out;
* The original 1879 bridge over the [[River Clyde]] was coming to the end of its useful life, and it was more effective to use the newer (1904) bridge to handle all the traffic, with the lines signalled bi-directionally;
* Electrification of the [[Cathcart Circle Lines]], and subsequently the Gourock and Wemyss Bay services and the West Coast Main Line.<ref name=nock />

In addition to the removal of the east river bridge, the [[Railroad_switch#Crossover|scissor crossovers]] through the station, the Cathcart Engine siding, East Bank Siding, Mid Bank Siding and No. 14 Dock were removed. The West Bank Siding was numbered as Platform 11a.

Glasgow Central Signalling Centre closed on 27 December 2008, when its area of control was transferred to the new West of Scotland Signalling Centre (WSSC) at [[Cowlairs]]. The [[Signalling control#Control panel|NX panel]] is to be preserved. The station is currently signalled by two Westinghouse [[Westlock Interlocking]]s which are controlled via an [[Alstom]] MCS control system.

=== Station tours ===
Following the success of the [[Doors Open Days|Doors Open day]] event in summer 2013, tours of the station several times each week began in November 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Behind-the-scenes tours of Glasgow Central Station begin|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29940875|access-date=17 February 2015|publisher=BBC News|date=7 November 2014|archive-date=20 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120073658/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29940875|url-status=live}}</ref> These 90-minute tours cover the roof, plus the catacombs, vaults, and a view of disused platforms below the station.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Tour|url=http://glasgowcentraltours.co.uk/the-tour/|website=Glasgow Central Experience|access-date=17 February 2015|archive-date=18 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218010558/http://glasgowcentraltours.co.uk/the-tour/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Piano garden ===
In December 2017, McLaren's Pianos gave a piano to the station on permanent loan, which is available to the public to play.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://glasgowdiscovered.co.uk/music/the-mclarens-piano-gateway-to-busking/ |title=The McLaren's Piano: Gateway to Busking |date=20 October 2019 |website=Glasgow Discovered {{!}} Showcasing Independent Music and Arts |access-date=9 November 2019 |archive-date=9 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109134428/http://glasgowdiscovered.co.uk/music/the-mclarens-piano-gateway-to-busking/ |url-status=live}}</ref> This area is referred to as the "Piano Garden" and is located directly behind the mobility assistance booth.

=== Station ticket facilities ===
There are three ticket halls: two are operated by ScotRail (main concourse and Argyle Street entrance) and the third is a travel centre run by Avanti West Coast adjacent to platforms 1 and 2. Avanti West Coast also operates a dedicated customer lounge, next to platform 1, and a First Class lounge.

== Services ==
Glasgow Central is served by five [[train operating companies]]. ScotRail uses both the high level and low level platforms; all other operators use the high level only. The general service pattern for Monday-Friday off-peak in trains per hour/day is:

=== ScotRail ===
High Level:

* 2 tph to [[Lanark railway station|Lanark]], via [[Motherwell railway station|Motherwell]] and [[Wishaw railway station|Wishaw]]
* 1 tph to [[Newton railway station|Newton]], via [[Pollokshields East railway station|Pollokshields East]] and [[Mount Florida railway station|Mount Florida]]
* 1 tph to Newton, via [[Pollokshields West railway station|Pollokshields West]] and {{rws|Pollokshaws East}}
* 2 tph to [[Neilston railway station|Neilston]] via Mount Florida and [[Cathcart railway station|Cathcart]]
* 1 tph to [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh Waverley]], via [[Shotts railway station|Shotts]] and [[Wester Hailes railway station|Wester Hailes]]
* 1 tp2h to Edinburgh Waverley, via Motherwell and [[Carstairs railway station|Carstairs]]
* 2 tph to [[Paisley Canal railway station|Paisley Canal]], via [[Mosspark railway station|Mosspark]]
* 1 tph to [[Gourock railway station|Gourock]] (fast), via [[Paisley Gilmour Street railway station|Paisley Gilmour Street]] and [[Port Glasgow railway station|Port Glasgow]]
* 2 tph to Gourock (slow), via Paisley Gilmour Street, [[Paisley St James railway station|Paisley St James]] and Port Glasgow
* 1 tph to [[Wemyss Bay railway station|Wemyss Bay]], via Paisley Gilmour Street and Port Glasgow
* 2 tph to [[Ayr railway station|Ayr]] (fast), via [[Kilwinning railway station|Kilwinning]] and [[Prestwick International Airport railway station|Prestwick International Airport]]
* 2 tph to Ayr (slow), via Paisley Gilmour Street, Kilwinning and Prestwick International Airport
* 1 tph to [[Ardrossan Harbour railway station|Ardrossan Harbour]], via Paisley Gilmour Street and [[Ardrossan Town railway station|Ardrossan Town]]
* 1 tph to [[Largs railway station|Largs]], via Paisley Gilmour Street and [[West Kilbride railway station|West Kilbride]]
* 2 tph to [[East Kilbride railway station|East Kilbride]], via {{rws|Pollokshaws West}} and [[Busby railway station|Busby]] (of which 1tph calls at [[Thorntonhall railway station|Thorntonhall]])
* 1 tph to [[Barrhead railway station|Barrhead]], via Pollokshaws West
* 1 tp2h to [[Kilmarnock railway station|Kilmarnock]] (fast), via Barrhead (of which 1 tpd continues to Ayr and 1tpd continues to [[Girvan railway station|Girvan]])
* 1 tph to Kilmarnock (slow), via Pollokshaws West and Barrhead
* 1 tp2h to [[Carlisle railway station|Carlisle]], via Barrhead, Kilmarnock and [[Dumfries railway station|Dumfries]].<ref name="ScotRail">{{Cite web |title=Train timetables |work=ScotRail |date=18 May 2025 |access-date=20 October 2025 |url=https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/timetables}}</ref>

Low Level:

* 2 tph to [[Larkhall railway station|Larkhall]], via Newton and [[Hamilton Central railway station|Hamilton Central]]
* 1 tph to [[Cumbernauld railway station|Cumbernauld]], via Hamilton Central and Motherwell
* 1 tph to Motherwell, via Newton and Hamilton Central
* 1 tph to Motherwell, via [[Mount Vernon railway station|Mount Vernon]] and [[Whifflet railway station|Whifflet]]
* 1 tph to Whifflet, via Mount Vernon
* 2 tph to [[Dalmuir railway station|Dalmuir]], via [[Anniesland railway station|Anniesland]] and [[Singer railway station|Singer]]
* 4 tph to Dalmuir, via [[Yoker railway station|Yoker]] and [[Clydebank railway station|Clydebank]].<ref name="ScotRail"/>

=== Avanti West Coast ===
* 1 tph to [[Euston railway station|London Euston]] (fast), via {{rws|Preston}} and {{rws|Warrington Bank Quay}} (trains alternate between calls at [[Penrith railway station|Penrith]] and [[Oxenholme Lake District railway station|Oxenholme Lake District]] at 1 tp2h each)
* 1 tp2h to London Euston, via Preston, Warrington Bank Quay, {{rws|Crewe}}, [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham New Street]] and {{rws|Coventry}}
* 1 tpd to Crewe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our latest timetables and ticket info |work=Avanti West Coast |date=18 May 2025 |access-date=20 October 2025 |url= https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/travel-information/plan-your-journey/timetables}}</ref>

=== CrossCountry ===
* 2 tpd to [[Plymouth railway station|Plymouth]], via Edinburgh Waverley, {{rws|York}}, Birmingham New Street and {{rws|Bristol Temple Meads}}
* 1 tpd to Edinburgh Waverley (Sundays only).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Train timetables |work=CrossCountry |date=18 May 2025 |access-date=20 October 2025 |url= https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/travel-information/train-timetables}}</ref>

=== TransPennine Express ===
* 1tp2h to [[Manchester Airport station|Manchester Airport]], via Preston and [[Manchester Piccadilly station|Manchester Piccadilly]]
* 3 tpd to [[Liverpool Lime Street railway station|Liverpool Lime Street]], via Preston and [[St Helens Central railway station|St Helens Central]]
* 1 tpd to Preston, via Carlisle.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/timetables |title=Timetables |website=Tpexpress.co.uk |date=18 May 2025 |access-date=20 October 2025}}</ref>

=== Caledonian Sleeper ===
* 1 tpd to London Euston, via Preston (except Saturday night).<ref>{{Cite web |title=All timetables |work=Caledonian Sleeper |date=18 May 2025 |access-date=20 October 2025 |url=https://www.sleeper.scot/travel-updates/all-timetables/}}</ref>

{{rail start}}
{{s-rail-national|previous=Motherwell|toc=CrossCountry|route=Scotland & The North East to the South West & South Coast}}
{{rail line|previous={{stnlnk|Motherwell}}<br />or {{stnlnk|Carlisle}}|route=[[Avanti West Coast]]<br />[[West Coast Main Line]] |col={{AWC colour}}}}
{{rail line three to one
|previous1={{rws|Motherwell}}
|previous2={{rws|Lockerbie}}
|previous3={{rws|Carlisle}}
|next1=
|route=[[TransPennine Express]]<br />(North West)
|col={{TPX colour}}
}}
{{rail line|previous={{stnlnk|Motherwell}}|route=[[Caledonian Sleeper]]<br />Lowland Caledonian Sleeper |col={{CS color}}}}
{{rail line|previous={{stnlnk|Argyle Street}}|next={{stnlnk|Anderston}}|route=[[ScotRail]]<br />[[Argyle Line]] |col={{ScotRail colour}} |lightcol={{National Rail colour |ScotRail|branch=Argyle Line}}}}
{{rail line|previous={{stnlnk|Paisley Gilmour Street}}|route=[[ScotRail]]<br />[[Ayrshire Coast Line]] |col={{ScotRail colour}} |lightcol={{National Rail colour| ScotRail|branch=Ayrshire Coast Line}}}}
{{rail line|previous={{stnlnk|Cardonald}}|route=[[ScotRail]]<br />[[Inverclyde Line]] |col={{ScotRail colour}} |lightcol={{National Rail colour| ScotRail|branch=Inverclyde Line}}}}
{{rail line|previous={{stnlnk|Pollokshields East}} or<br />{{Stnlnk|Pollokshields West}}|route=[[ScotRail]]<br />[[Cathcart Circle Lines]] |col={{ScotRail colour}} |lightcol={{National Rail colour|First ScotRail|branch=Cathcart Circle Lines}}}}
{{rail line|previous={{stnlnk|Dumbreck}}|route=[[ScotRail]]<br />[[Paisley Canal Line]] |col={{ScotRail colour}} |lightcol={{National Rail colour| ScotRail|branch=Paisley Canal Line}}}}
{{rail line|previous={{stnlnk|Cambuslang}}|route=[[ScotRail]]<br />[[Shotts Line]] |col={{ScotRail colour}} |lightcol={{National Rail colour| ScotRail|branch=Shotts Line}}}}
{{rail line|previous={{stnlnk|Motherwell}}|route=[[ScotRail]]<br />[[North Berwick Line]] |col={{ScotRail colour}} |lightcol={{National Rail colour| ScotRail|branch=North Berwick Line}}}}
{{rail line|previous={{stnlnk|Crossmyloof}}|route=[[ScotRail]]<br />[[Glasgow South Western Line]] |col={{ScotRail colour}} |lightcol={{National Rail colour| ScotRail|branch=Glasgow South Western Line}}}}
{{rail line two to one
|previous1={{rws|Lockerbie}}
|previous2={{rws|Carlisle}}
|next1=
|route=[[TransPennine Express]]<br />[[Liverpool Lime Street]] to Glasgow Central
|col={{TPX colour}}
}}

{{Historical Rail Insert}}
{{rail line
|next     = {{stnlnk|Anderston}}<br />''Line open; station open''
|previous = {{stnlnk|Glasgow Cross}}<br />''Line open; station closed''
|route    = [[Caledonian Railway]]<br />[[Glasgow Central Railway]]
|col      = {{Caledonian colour}} |lightcol={{Caledonian light}}}}
{{rail line
|previous = {{stnlnk|Eglinton Street}}<br />''Line open; station closed''
|route    = [[Caledonian Railway]]<br />[[Cathcart District Railway]]
|col      = {{Caledonian colour}} |lightcol={{Caledonian light}}}}
{{rail line
|previous = {{stnlnk|Eglinton Street}}<br />''Line open; station closed''
|route    = Caledonian Railway<br />[[Polloc and Govan Railway]]
|col      = {{Caledonian colour}} |lightcol={{Caledonian light}}}}
{{rail line
|previous = {{stnlnk|Bridge Street}}<br />''Line open; station closed''
|route    = Caledonian and<br />[[Glasgow and South Western Railway|Glasgow & South Western]]<br />Railways<br />[[Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway]]
|col      = {{CR-GSW-Jt colour}} |lightcol={{CR-GSW-Jt light}}}}
{{rail line
|previous = {{stnlnk|Eglinton Street}}<br />''Line open; station closed''
|route    = Caledonian and<br />[[Glasgow and South Western Railway|Glasgow & South Western]]<br />Railways<br />[[Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Railway|Glasgow, Barrhead and<br />Kilmarnock Joint Railway]]
|col      = {{CR-GSW-Jt colour}} |lightcol={{CR-GSW-Jt light}}}}
{{S-end}}

===Other transport connections===
A [[taxi rank]] lies to the north of the station, while buses operate from the adjacent streets. 

[[St Enoch subway station|St Enoch]] and [[Buchanan Street subway station|Buchanan Street]] [[Glasgow Subway|Subway]] stations are within a few minutes' walk. 

[[First Glasgow]] operates a bus service on behalf of ScotRail to {{Stnlnk|Glasgow Queen Street}} and [[Buchanan bus station]]; this bus is numbered 398 and runs every 12 minutes.

==''Inside Central Station''==
Coinciding with the launch of the new [[BBC Scotland (TV channel)|BBC Scotland TV channel]], a new [[Documentary film|documentary]] TV series titled ''Inside Central Station'' was commissioned to [[STV Productions]], first airing on 3 March 2019<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00032nr |title=BBC Scotland – Inside Central Station, Series 1, Episode 1 |publisher=BBC |access-date=30 June 2019 |archive-date=12 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512195000/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00032nr |url-status=live}}</ref> detailing the day-to-day life of the station following and interviewing various members of staff on their shifts and passengers visiting the station. The series also focused on the history of the station, with segments presented by the station tour guide, Paul Lyons. The series received positive critical reception.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stvplc.tv/ |title=STV |access-date=30 June 2019 |archive-date=6 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706020730/http://www.stvplc.tv/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Currently, four series of the show have aired.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 August 2022 |title=Date revealed for fourth series of Inside Central Station |url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/scottish-news/20741277.inside-central-station-returns-series-four-bbc-scotland/ |access-date=17 September 2023 |website=Glasgow Times}}</ref>

==References==

===Citations===
{{clear right}}
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Awdry-RailCo|ref=none}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Brailsford |editor-first=Martyn |title=Railway Track Diagrams 1: Scotland & Isle of Man |edition=6th |date=December 2017 |orig-year=1987 |publisher=Trackmaps |location=Frome |isbn=978-0-9549866-9-8}}
* {{Butt-Stations}}
* {{Kernahan-Cathcart|ref=none}}
* {{Cameron-Glasgow|ref=none}}
* {{Johnston-Glasgow|ref=none}}
* {{Thomas-History-VI|ref=none}}
* {{ModRailSignalling|ref=none}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061015005336/http://www.jhowie.force9.co.uk/glasgowcentral.htm History of Glasgow Central station]
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|title=Glasgow Central Station Through Time|first=Michael|last=Meighan|publisher=Amberley Publishing|year=2013|isbn=978-1-4456-1094-8|oclc=830352220}}
* {{cite magazine|title=All line lead to Glasgow Central|first=John|last=Hunt|magazine=[[RAIL (magazine)|RAIL]]|issue=322|publisher=EMAP Apex Publications|date=14–27 January 1998|pages=20–26|issn=0953-4563|oclc=49953699}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Transport in Glasgow}}
{{Glasgow stations}}
{{Major railway stations in Britain}}
{{Major Scottish railway stations}}
{{Railway stations served by Avanti West Coast}}
{{Railway stations served by Abellio Scotrail}}
{{Railway stations served by London North Eastern Railway}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Railway stations in Glasgow]]
[[Category:Former Caledonian Railway stations]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1879]] <!-- high level -->
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1896]] <!-- low level -->
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 1964]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1979]]
[[Category:Network Rail managed stations]]
[[Category:SPT railway stations]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by ScotRail]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by Caledonian Sleeper]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by CrossCountry]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by TransPennine Express]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by Avanti West Coast]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by London North Eastern Railway]]
[[Category:Category A listed buildings in Glasgow]]
[[Category:Listed railway stations in Scotland]]
[[Category:James Miller railway stations]]
[[Category:Robert Rowand Anderson buildings]]
[[Category:Stations on the West Coast Main Line]]