Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 5:49 pm Post subject: Glasgow North Station
In the post-Second World War period a plan was devised and outlined in two
reports into how to redevelop the city of Glasgow. The Bruce Report
is the name commonly given to these reports of the Glasgow Corporation (the
former local authority area for the city). Both reports were authored by City
Engineer Robert Bruce, lending them their collective name.
Rail
As well as housing reform and recommending changes to Glasgow's road network,
Bruce also suggested radical changes to Glasgow's railways. At the time of the
Bruce Report, the city had four major railway stations. Central and St Enoch both
served primarily southbound destinations. Queen Street and Buchanan Street mainly
served northbound destinations.
In order to rationalise the city's mainline services, Bruce suggested that all four
stations be demolished and replaced with two new stations. A new Glasgow North
station was proposed roughly on the site of Buchanan Street station (occupying a
larger area) to replace Buchanan Street and Queen Street stations. A Glasgow South
station was proposed on the approximate site of Glasgow Central station to replace
Central and St Enoch stations.
These plans were never implemented, and all four stations remained until the 1960s when
the Beeching Axe reforms changed the shape of rail services across the United Kingdom.
Beeching's reforms spelt the end for both Buchanan Street and St Enoch stations which
closed, effectively rationalising rail services in the city along similar lines to Bruce's two
station plan, but without requiring the demolition of four stations and construction of two
new ones. Beeching's reforms also removed low level services from Glasgow Central
station, but these were reintroduced in the late 1970s).
Glasgow North
The plan for Glasgow North Station, drawn up in 1951, set out a scheme whereby
Buchanan Street and Queen Street stations were to be closed and a new station was
to be built in their place. This station would have been built on land mostly including the
site of Buchanan Street Station, although would have been many times larger. Queen
Street High Level would've been closed and the lines into the station diverted into the
new station at the top of the Cowlairs incline at Sighthill. The Buchanan Street tunnel
would have been opened up and the tracks into the station increased from two to four.
Bruce's plan would also have seen a new bus station built on the Queen Street High Level
site, with the Queen Street Low Level railway station remaining to provide suburban
services and to connect the new bus station to the rail network.
The images below show the before and after plans for Glasgow North. Click on each
image to see a larger version.
Buchanan Street & Queen Street stations 1951
Glasgow North station proposal
James H _________________ The blinding obvious is what you showed to me.....
Do you have any other details from the Bruce Plan?
I lived opposite Buchanan Street Station for a few years and it looked like the plan for the Glasgow North Station wouldn't have altered where we lived. _________________ I had a dream today
No, but it would have wiped out Killermont Street though and scuppered the councils
obsession with "realigning" that part of the city centre which saw Parliamentary Road
disappear altogether...
James H
_________________ The blinding obvious is what you showed to me.....
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With the benefit of hindsight we can see how wrong his ideas were, but honestly he was bordering on madness with some of it.