Lines Served

This is the northern terminus of the West Coast line from Euston and the hub for various local services, (see the front page of this guide for more details). It is also the terminus for National Express East Coast (NXEC) services, via Edinburgh.

It is also a through station on the east/west line serving various local destinations.

Layout

The station is constructed on five levels:

• The upper level, containing Bonapartes Cafe Bar and Yates's Wine Lodge, to the west plus Station Reception, separate from this area, to the north;
• the main concourse, plus platforms 1 to 15 and other facilities;
• the low level concourse, offering ticket sales and access to platforms 16 and 17, running east/west;
• an intermediate level, of passages between lifts, escalators and steps to platforms 16 and 17;
• platforms 16 and 17.

The main concourse is a large, irregular shape which generally slopes up (south) towards the platforms. The platforms 1 to 14 (numbered from east to west) share six island platforms which leave south from the concourse. The middle of the island platform 11 and 14 is occupied by the road which enters from Hope Street before turning south. This road eventually slopes down, under the island platform to emerge in Oswald Street. Platform 12, formerly 11A is a bay platform towards the south end of the island, beside platform 11. This will be extended into the station during the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) project. A new platform 13 will also be introduced during this work so that platforms 11 and 12 and 13 and 14 will be separate island platforms. We understand that the road will terminate within the station merely offering access for emergency vehicles.

Platform 15 is a separate platform which follows the west wall of the station.

The beginnings of the platforms are stepped south, such that:

• tracks 1 to 5 are in line;
• tracks 6 and 7 start about six metres south of tracks 1 to 5;
• track 8 starts about four metres south of tracks 6 and 7;
• track 9 starts about 20 metres south of track 8;
• tracks 10 and 11 start about four metres south of track 9;
• tracks 14 and 15 start about four metres south of tracks 10 and 11.

The east/west line, platforms 16 and 17 runs at a lower level, south of the main concourse. Whilst the main concourse slopes up, both Hope and Union streets slope down to the south such that the low level concourse has street level entrances from Hope and Argyle streets. A lift at the north end of platform 15, plus escalators and steps, opposite platform 11, connect the low level and main concourses.

The lift from platform 13 gives access to the intermediate level, which can also be reached from the low level concourse, via escalators and steps.

Platforms 16 and 17 can be reached via steps, or the lower lift, from the intermediate level. Platform 16, eastbound lies north of platform 17, westbound.

The upper level to the west can be reached via steps or lift from the west side of the main concourse, whilst Station Reception is reached via steps from the north. Note, there's an intercom at the foot of these steps to call for staff assistance.

Accessibility

There is step-free access to both concourses from street level. Lifts provide step-free access throughout this station. There is also stairs access to all areas.

We therefore believe the station is accessible to Guide Dog and wheelchair users.

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GLASGOW CENTRAL STATION

© 2004, Terry Robinson

This guide is sponsored by all who contributed to our online guide to Sight Village 2003. Please view the front page of this guide for details.