Glasgow Transport #2 : Central Station

The original station, opened on 1 August 1879 on the north bank of the River Clyde, had eight platforms and was linked to Bridge Street station by a railway bridge over Argyle Street and a four-track railway bridge, built by Sir William Arrol, which crossed the Clyde to the south.

The station was soon congested. In 1890, a temporary solution of widening the bridge over Argyle Street and inserting a ninth platform on Argyle Street bridge was completed. It was also initially intended to increase Bridge Street station to eight through lines and to increase Central station to 15 platforms.

By 1900 the station was again found to be too small, passenger numbers per annum on the high-level station having increased by 5.156 million since the first extension was completed in 1890. Passenger usage per annum in 1899 was 16.841 million on the high-level station and 6.416 million on the low-level station, a total of 23.257 million. 

The station is on two levels: the High-Level station at the same level as Gordon Street, which bridges over Argyle Street, and the underground Low-Level station.

Between 1901 and 1905 the original station was rebuilt. The station was extended over the top of Argyle Street, and thirteen platforms were built. An additional eight-track bridge was built over the Clyde, and the original bridge was raised by 30 inches. Bridge Street station was then closed.

The station’s famous architectural features are the large glass-walled bridge that takes the station building over Argyle Street, nicknamed as the “Hielanman’s Umbrella” (Highlandman’s Umbrella) by locals because it was used as a gathering place for visiting Highlanders out of the rain.

Glasgow Central is the busiest railway station in Scotland and the second busiest in Britain outside London, after Birmingham New Street. According to Network Rail, over 38 million people use it annually, 80% of whom are passengers.

picture via : thismaudlincareer