Glasgow city centre gridlock after Union Street vape shop fire

The blaze on Union Street in Glasgow on Sunday, March 8, led to the closure of Glasgow Central and significant disruption to bus routes, causing severe traffic congestion and delays.

Commuters have described the “gridlock” on the roads, with vehicles struggling to move in and out of the city centre.

The city centre has been brought to a standstill after a major fire forced the closure of key streets and its main railway station (Image: Glasgow Times reader)

One commuter told the Glasgow Times: “There’s so many buses everywhere, I’m assuming it’s because they are all diverted because of the fire.

“My bus didn’t move for 10 minutes, we were stuck as the light went from red to green and back.

“The rest of the city is the same. It’s like gridlock.

“They are all just sitting there waiting.”

The height of the fire on Glasgow’s Union Street (Image: Supplied)

The fire broke out on the ground floor of a four-storey commercial building at around 3.46pm on Sunday, March 8, prompting a major emergency response.

A total of 18 fire engines and specialist equipment, including a high-volume pump drawing water from the River Clyde, were deployed to the scene.

Transport chaos has continued for a second day, with Glasgow Central remaining closed and no trains arriving or departing.

This has added pressure to the road network, with heavy congestion reported on nearby streets and motorways.

Hope Street, close to the scene of the fire, has been particularly affected, with long tailbacks and stationary traffic.

New shocking images show the devastation caused by Union Street fire. (Image: Gordon Terris)

West Nile Street has been closed from St Vincent Street to Gordon Street, and is southbound only from Bath Street to St Vincent Street.

Mitchell Street is also closed between Gordon Street and Argyle Street.

First Bus has diverted several routes as a result.

Traffic images show long lines of buses packed into the narrow lanes of Hope Street.

Services travelling towards Victoria Road, including the 4 and 4A, are running via Regent Street, Hope Street, Cowcaddens Road, Graham Street, West Street, Trongate, and Stockwell Street before rejoining their usual routes.

The city centre has been brought to a standstill after a major fire forced the closure of key streets and its main railway station. (Image: Glasgow Times reader)

The 6 service towards East Kilbride follows a similar diversion, travelling via Renfrew Street, Killermont Street, North Hanover Street, Cathedral Street, High Street, and Trongate before returning to its standard route.

Some city centre streets have since reopened, including St Vincent Street, Renfield Street (up to St Vincent Street), Oswald Street, and Hope Street.

However, key bus corridors remain either closed or heavily restricted, and public transport operators are warning that delays are likely to continue until full access is restored and Glasgow Central reopens.