Overview

Though Glasgow Central is arguably more well-known, Queen Street Railway Station opened in 1842, some 37 years prior. The station looks to George Square, where you'll find bars, restaurants and the City Chambers.

Transport & Parking

Located on a central bus route and just a stone's throw from Buchanan Street Subway Station, the station is easy to reach. However, changes in recent years have led to the removal of parking spaces around the nearby George Square. The closest on-street parking is on Queen Street, where there are many accessible parking spaces, although they tend to fill up quickly.

Access

The station is accessible from three sides, with ramp and lift access; however, I’ve found that the lift does not operate until at least two hours after the station opens, as it’s the responsibility of the left luggage team, who unlock it when they get to it. I arrived for an outbound journey at 07:10 one morning to find they hadn’t yet unlocked the lift. As a result, I had to go the long way around and use the ramp on the left side of the building. This also means that the toilets on the lower level, as well as the trains, are not accessible to disabled people when the station opens for the day, as it’s the same lift used to access them. The mobility assistance area is little more than a desk at the gates on the upper level of the station, which can be awkward to reach when the station is busy. A hearing loop is operational at the ticket office and on the platforms. There is a waiting room on the concourse, close to the accessible toilet. There are two coffee kiosks, with a third on the other side of the gates to platforms 8 and 9. There’s also a Marks & Spencer store, offering snacks, hot drinks, and self-service tills, which I was able to use while seated in my wheelchair. I’m scoring down accessibility overall due to the lift. I wish I didn’t have to, as there is level access throughout, the lift buttons have braille markings, and an induction loop operates in the lifts, at the ticket office, and on the platforms. When I can be sure that the lift will operate in line with station opening hours, I’ll rescore.

Toilets

There is a modern Changing Places toilet at the station, which you'll find on the basement level by taking the lift to the lower level. The lift button says “-2” rather than “basement,” which could cause a little confusion. The door opens outwards and requires a RADAR key to enter. The toilet features an adjustable change bed with a privacy screen, shower, shower seat, and a ceiling track hoist. There's an adjustable sink with a deep basin and lever-style tap, grab rails on both sides and a static toilet with grab rails on both sides. The toilet seat and grab rails contrast with the white wall of the toilet. There is a colostomy shelf to the left of the toilet, which is being used to store toilet paper, and a right-side transfer space that is unusable due to bins being stored in the transfer space. The red cord was tied around a grabrail, despite having a Euan's Guide red cord card attached. I fixed it during my visit and can only hope it remains unobstructed. The toilet is well equipped but not well maintained. The maintenance chart stated it had been checked twice that day, which means that the tied-up cord had been overlooked that day, if not for several days. The accessible toilet on the concourse was out of order.

Staff

Photos