Massive fire in Glasgow: Historic 19th-century building collapses and disrupts rail travel across Scotland
Emergency services in England (illustrative photo: Getty Images)
On Sunday evening, March 8, central Glasgow became the scene of a major emergency, reports The Guardian.
Thus, a large fire in the heart of Glasgow paralyzed train traffic across Scotland. A historic building from 1851 caught fire on Union Street — flames were so strong that the structure began collapsing right before rescuers' eyes, causing real transport paralysis.
Scale of disaster on Union Street
Fire broke out at 15:46 on the first floor of a four-story commercial building. More than 60 rescuers and 12 fire engines arrived at the scene to stop the spread of flames. Firefighters on high-reach cranes spent hours trying to contain the fire to save the nearby Central Hotel and Caledonian Chambers.
In turn, Member of Parliament Paul Sweeney confirmed that the historic landmark built in 1851 suffered irreparable damage and collapsed.
Pożar przy dworcu Glasgow Central
— Raport Światowy (@RaportSwiatowy) March 9, 2026
W pobliżu dworca Glasgow Central wybuchł duży pożar. Część sąsiedniego budynku zawaliła się, a ogień przez długi czas się rozprzestrzeniał.
Na miejscu pracowały służby ratunkowe, które walczyły z ogniem w centrum miasta.
Obserwuj… pic.twitter.com/qWwVO03a4Q
Transport blockade in Glasgow
Glasgow Central Station completely stopped operations. Railway connections experienced critical changes:
- Upper platforms: all services canceled until further notice.
- Lower platforms: trains passed the station without stopping.
- For passengers: tickets of Avanti West Coast are now accepted on London North Eastern Railway services between Edinburgh and London King's Cross railway station without extra charges.
Consequences for the city
Despite the scale of involved forces (more than 15 units of special equipment), firefighting lasted more than five hours. Rescuers note that there are no reports of casualties, but the Union Street area remains closed due to the risk of further structural collapses.
A day earlier, a Russian drone attacked a passenger train on the Kyiv–Sumy train route. Fortunately, no one was injured, and auxiliary locomotive was quickly sent to continue movement.
