Film stars camera shy as World War Z rolls into town

A crowd of some 70 fans gathered to see Pitt, his partner, actress Angelina Jolie, and children as they arrived in the city with cast and crew just before 2:30pm.

The star is taking the lead role in the film adaptation of the horror novel World War Z which depicts the aftermath of the world when it is decimated by a zombie apocalypse.

Several streets away from the station, George Square and the surrounding area continued their transformation into downtown Philadelphia, as film crews erected yellow traffic lights, distinctive One Way signs and created a traffic jam from US cars.

But fans hoping to witness a little Hollywood glitz were disappointed when the star and his family disembarked and vanished before they could barely be spotted.

Rumours of Pitt's arrival in Glasgow surfaced during mid-morning, after they were snapped boarding a Virgin train at London Euston station along with other members of the film's cast and crew, heading, it was claimed, to Central Station.

By midday, the first signs of the Hollywood couple - known collectively in celebrity gossip mags as Brangelina - appeared with the erection of a small corral in the central concourse of the station between platforms 11 and 12, and the earnest polishing of adjacent ScotRail signs by apprehensive-looking station staff.

Strange though it might seem for a Hollywood star to let the train take the strain, according a Virgin spokeswoman, the company offers a rental service tailored to the individual's needs.

Although she refused to reveal the cost, explaining that it depended on the size of the train, distance travelled and duration she said it was popular with football teams: "Manchester United have hired trains in the past. It is a bespoke service that we offer."

The appearance of several police officers at the platform just after 1pm was followed by the first real signs of movie star trappings: a dark blue Jaguar with blacked-out rear seat windows emerged from a tunnel and stopped.

A pair of serious looking, shaven-headed security guards wearing earpieces climbed out and spoke to the police and staff before guiding a slow cavalcade of silver Mercedes people carrier cars with darkened windows into the station, which were then parked in the corral, ready to make a quick getaway. By 1:45pm, the natural curiosity of people and eager fans who had picked up on the rumours of the Hollywood couple's arrival meant that a large crowd began to gather at the entrance to the platform.

Photographers who had previously concealed their cameras, lest they be ejected from the station, began to pick their spots for the big moment.

Realising that the public was better informed than expected, police pushed the crowds back, erecting a five-metre no-go zone with railings at either end of it.

With 2pm approaching, a mix of travellers, students and workers on their lunch hours jostled for the best view to capture the couple on their phone cameras. Deals were struck between friends to share pictures, depending on who got the best ones.

The conversation in the crowd focused on likely ETAs for the train; why they chose to travel by train "Maybe Angelina's pregnant"; and general expressions of fandom - which stretched from "I'm not that big a fan, but its better than looking at the guy sitting across from me in the office" to "I don't think I was this excited on my wedding day".

The sense of anticipation among the crowd was palpable, and passengers disembarking from a Cathcart train at platform 11 ahead of Pitt and Jolie's arrival looked startled and confused, faced with a crowd of expectant fans and photographers brandishing cameras at them.

And then it happened: just before 2:30pm the stars' private hire red-and-white Virgin Pendalino eased into the station and sensing that this was the big moment, the crowds began to scream.

At the very moment the train doors opened, one of the silver MPVs parked in front of the platform entrance, depriving the crowd of their brush with fame, eliciting cries of disappointment - mainly from photographers.

The sudden sighting of a man with shoulder-length blonde hair and a beard similar to Pitt's caused the hysteria to rise again, though at second glance it was revealed to be the actor's body double.

A knowing smile on his face, the lookalike pushed his way through disappointed crowds, who scrutinised him as he passed, and out of the station with the dozens of other passengers.

But Pitt and his family were gone in an instant, lost among the dozens of passengers, and heading out to a private house that they have rented on the west coast within commuting distance.

Stephanie Canning, 16, said of the star's departure: "When I heard he was coming to town, I came in especially to see Brad. It's really disappointing, though. I thought given all the fans that are here, he would've come and given us a wave."Watching the cars speed out of the station, a group of girls leaned over a railing, peering into each of the MPVs as they passed, straining to catch a glimpse of the actor and his partner through the darkened glass.

Lauren Campbell, 19, described the arrival as "an anti-climax". She said: "I'm really disappointed. Everybody was here to see Brad and he didn't even wave. It was totally disappointing."

Her friend, Jade Summerville ,agreed: "I came here especially to see them after my uncle whose a train driver tipped me off. I couldn't believe that they didn't even give us a glimpse of them, it's a real shame."

However, Ms Campbell said that they would not be deterred from getting to see Hollywood aristocracy in action: "We're not going to be put off. We are going to be down at George Square tomorrow and we're going to see him then."