Fire near Glasgow Central station causes major rail disruption

Train passengers are facing major disruption after a fire broke out near Glasgow-central-station" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="41357" data-entity-type="location">Glasgow Central station.Dozens of trains were cancelled on Sunday evening after the blaze at a vape shop in Union Street.National Rail said the station would be closed until further notice as crews continued to tackle the fire five hours after it began.No trains will run to or from the high-level platforms at Scotland’s busiest station, and those that run through the low-level platforms will not call at Glasgow Central.Network Rail said the station will remain closed on Monday morning and National Rail expects disruption to continue until the end of the day on Monday.First minister John Swinney said on social media: “I am deeply concerned about the fire near Glasgow-central-station" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="41357" data-entity-type="location">Glasgow Central station tonight and very grateful to all of the emergency services who are responding.“Please continue to follow travel guidance, avoid the area and stay safe.”Paul Sweeney, the Labour MSP for Glasgow, said the building had partially collapsed.In a post on social media, he said the building dates back to 1851.Sweeney said: “Sadly the building has now partially collapsed. I hope the fire can be contained. The corner of the Forsyth Building, as well as the Caledonian Chambers and Central Hotel, seem unaffected.“It’s a massive blow to Union Street with the restoration of the Egyptian Halls in prospect.”Firefighters on high-reach vehicles tackle a blaze near Glasgow-central-station" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="41357" data-entity-type="location">Glasgow Central station. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty ImagesIn a statement at 8.30pm, a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Fire fighters continue to work to extinguish a large building fire on Union Street, Glasgow.“At its height, 15 fire appliances and specialist resources, including three high-reach vehicles and a water rescue team, were mobilised to the area.“We were first alerted at 3.46pm on Sunday, March 8, to reports of a fire affecting the ground floor of a four-storey commercial building.“There are no reported casualties, and crews remain at the scene.”Some ticket acceptance is in place, with Avanti West Coast passengers able to use their tickets at no extra cost on LNER services between Edinburgh and London King’s Cross.Meanwhile operator TransPennine Express has said its services between Glasgow Central and Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Airport will not run on Monday and has urged passengers not to travel as there will not be any rail replacement buses.