Glasgow Central station will remain closed on Monday and is likely to be closed on Tuesday following the horror blaze in the city centre.
Fire crews are still dousing a building next to Glasgow Central station as a devastating fire has been compared to “something out of the Blitz” caused major travel disruption.
Glaswegians are processing their shock after the 19th century building partially collapsed following the blaze on Sunday night, including a dome which caved in last night (March 8).
Many businesses have been destroyed in the fire, which a member of Scottish Parliament compared to the devastation from “the Blitz”. Nearby hotels were evacuated and roads were sealed off.
On Monday morning (March 9), fire crews used aerial platforms to hose water onto what remained of the building, as smoke hung in the air.
(Image: Getty Images)
Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings
Only the facade of the building at the corner of Gordon Street and Union Street is left standing.
A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “Glasgow Central station remains closed following the fire in a building on Union Street on Sunday.
“While the fire is now under control, emergency services are still on site and we continue to support their response.
“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.
(Image: SWNS)
“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.”
Labour MSP Paul Sweeney said there are now concerns for the viability of the remainder of the building, which was gutted by the blaze.
He told BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme: “There’s the cafe, there’s the Blue Lagoon (chip shop), of course, which is famous for many Glaswegians.
“It’s been completely wiped out, destroyed. I mean the building is a gutted shell. It looks like something out of the Blitz.
“I spoke to building control officers last night on site. They don’t have much hope that the building can be saved at all. We wait and see what their final decisions are but it sounds like the remaining facade onto Gordon Street is likely to have to come down, unfortunately.”
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said there is “enormous” damage following the fire.
(Image: Katielee Arrowsmith / SWNS)
Speaking to the Press Association in Kilmarnock, Swinney said would shortly be visiting the scene of the incident.
He said: “This has been a very, very serious fire in the proximity of Central station in Glasgow.
“And I want to express my warmest thanks to the emergency services for dealing with a truly horrific incident, a very severe incident, and doing it with such pace and such effectiveness.”
He continued: “The fact that there are no serious injuries reported is a huge relief, but the damage is enormous and the disruption will be significant to the travelling public and around the city centre.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.