WATCH: Dramatic time-lapse video shows amazing transformation of Glasgow Queen Street Station

Two-minute film charts £120 million revamp of historic terminus to handle longer trains

It marks three years since the start of work, whose completion has been delayed from the spring to the end of the year by the Covid pandemic.

The station has been enlarged south with a new entrance off George Square with the demolition of an extension to the Millennium Hotel and the Consort House office block.

Public acclaim for the project has led to Queen Street being named as Britain’s favourite station in a poll this month by the Rail Delivery Group industry body.

The new glass frontage on George Square. Picture: Network Rail

The honour comes less than 18 months after it came bottom in a passenger satisfaction survey by watchdog Transport Focus at the height of disruption caused by the work.

Platforms have been lengthened south towards George Square to accommodate nine-carriage trains for the main line to Edinburgh.

The final phase of work includes stripping down ten cast iron pillars in the enlarged concourse and repainting them with a blue base, white column and gold top.

The 5m tall columns support the A-listed 142-year-old station’s barrel shaped glass roof.

The glass concourse frontage affords views onto George Square obscured for decades by a hotel extension. Picture: Network Rail

BACKGROUND: ‘Horrid' 1970s buildings to make way for Queen Street station revamp

Kevin McClelland, route delivery director for infrastructure projects for Network Rail, which owns the station, said: “The redevelopment has been a remarkable project to be involved with in every sense.

“While externally the striking new look of the station has been in place for some time, recent months have seen much of the interior elements being completed during a period when the team also adapted to a new way of working.

“We are now in the final phase of the redevelopment work, with our focus over the remaining weeks on completion of the high level foyer area to platforms eight and nine, and also painting several of the Victorian pillars within the station, which have been unveiled for the first time in decades.”

Pillars are being repainted on the concourse as part of the final phase of work. Picture: Network Rail

Margaret Hoey, of ScotRail, who manages the station said: “The redeveloped station, coupled with our investment in new longer, greener electric trains, is transforming what we can offer our customers at Queen Street.

"The new station also provides an impressive gateway for visitors arriving into Glasgow and for tourists heading north.”

The work has involved the removal of 14,000 tons of material from the demolished buildings, 94 percent of which was recycled.

Its new glass facade onto George Square features 310 window panes installed across the new 21m high steel structure.

Queen Street Station is used by 17.2 million people a year

Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway, which comprises Network Rail and ScotRail, told the online Scottish Transport Awards Summit today: “It’s absolutely awesome.

"It’s going to spark a renaissance of that part of Glasgow – it’s probably going to be the best and coolest bit of town.”

The Rail Delivery Group praised the station’s triumph in its “World Cup of Stations”.

Director of nations and regions Robert Nisbet said: “It’s a fitting tribute to the newly-redeveloped station and the friendly staff there who have kept key workers moving through the pandemic and continue to support the local community.”

UK rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “My congratulations go to all the staff at Glasgow Queen Street for winning this year’s competition.

"They have played a key role supporting Britain’s recovery from Covid-19, ensuring key workers and NHS staff can get to work, saving lives.”

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