by Gordon Hamilton

Created on: February 13, 2009

There are several mainline railway stations in Glasgow City Centre but the largest and busiest of these is Glasgow Central Station. Glasgow Central is located right in the heart of Glasgow's shopping district, between Hope Street and Renfield Street. There are exits from the station leading on to both of those streets as well as Argyle Street but the station's main entrance is on Gordon Street.

The main concourse of Glasgow Central Station gives the traveller access to a number of facilities which they may require either immediately before or after their journey. There are of course restrooms, but also a couple of pubs/bars, both of which serve food as well as drinks, the Glasgow Central Hotel and a number of retail outlets selling everything from fast food to luxury chocolates to newspapers. There are also a number of ATM's for the free use of those stuck short of cash.

The large overhead timetable board at the track end of the concourse provides up to date information on trains due to depart, which platform they will leave from and each station they will call at. This platform level is known as Glasgow Central High Level, even though it is at ground level. Trains departing from these thirteen platforms are almost always heading South or West. There are some few services which go East to Edinburgh or beyond but they can be few and far between and those looking to travel to Edinburgh would be well advised to make the ten to fifteen minute walk to Glasgow Queen Street Station for a much more regular service.

Glasgow Central Low Level, although technically underground, is a quite distinct and separate concern from the Glasgow Underground Service. Trains on this track are generally running between Lanarkshire and a series of towns to the West of Glasgow and services on this line, although extremely frequent at busy times, can be extremely busy with the morning and evening commuters.

If we wish to make use of Glasgow's Underground when arriving in the city at Glasgow Central Station, we can make the ten minute walk to either Buchanan Street Underground Station or St Enoch's Underground Station, the latter just off Argyle Street. If we are heading for Glasgow International Airport, there is an extremely regular bus service which takes us there in about half an hour for a one way fare of just over two pounds or if we are heading for Glasgow Prestwick Airport, we should take a train from the High Level direct to the airport's own railway station.

I hope this guide to Glasgow Central Station has proven of benefit to you or will at least do so upon the occasion of your next visit to Glasgow.

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