Avanti West Coast opens new Ticket Office and First Class Lounge at Glasgow Central

• Network Rail investment breathes new life into historic building at Glasgow Central
• New facilities offer improved journey experience, as part of station upgrade project
• Ticket Office and First Class Lounge relocate to Caledonian Chambers bringing Avanti West Coast closer to its customers

Avanti West Coast has opened the doors to its new Ticket Office and First Class Lounge at Glasgow Central following major works to upgrade the station.  

The new facilities, which are part of a £5m investment by Network Rail, offer an improved customer experience for those travelling to and from Glasgow.

Located in the historic Caledonian Chambers on the east side of the concourse and near to platforms 1 and 2 – where Avanti West Coast’s Pendolino trains arrive and depart – the Ticket Office and First Class Lounge now mean the intercity operator’s facilities and staff are closer to its customers.

Designed to provide a better journey experience, the Ticket Office has two welcome desks, more ticket machines and user-friendly information screens. Staff will also be equipped with handheld devices to assist with customer queries – offering a more visible presence.

The lighter, brighter spaces, which have been created as part of the Glasgow Central station upgrade project – with the glass entrance to the Ticket Office featuring green frames which is a nod to the colours of the Caledonian Railway - the company that originally ran services out of Glasgow Central in the late 1800s.

Network Rail’s work to refurbish the Caledonian Chambers has seen it respectfully preserve the original building and its features. An exposed steel pillar is part of the interior of the new Ticket Office.

In addition, a £52,000 grant from the Railway Heritage Trust has enabled Network Rail to restore some of the original sash windows on the building façade, which feature in Avanti West Coast’s First Class Lounge.   

As part of the project, Network Rail have created a new step-free Station Reception on the concourse level of the building to improve accessibility – particularly for those with wheelchairs, prams or luggage.

Andy Mellors, Managing Director at Avanti West Coast, said: “We’ve been looking forward to opening the doors to our new Ticket Office and First Class Lounge following this latest investment to improve journeys on the west coast. Glasgow is a key destination on our route and a city we’re proud to serve, so we’re absolutely delighted we now have welcoming facilities that complement the beautiful station and can be enjoyed by our customers travelling to and from Glasgow Central.

“These facilities offer a better experience with improved accessibility, as well as making it easier to buy tickets and find journey information. Our new location in Caledonian Chambers also means we’re closer to our customers on Platforms 1 and 2. It has been great working with Network Rail Scotland to transform these spaces, as part of their Glasgow Central station upgrade project and we look forward to seeing further improvements.”

Liam Sumpter, Managing Director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “This project represents an exciting opportunity to enhance facilities within the station in what is a multi-million-pound investment in Glasgow Central.

“The upgrade we are delivering will improve choice for our passengers and better serve the needs of our retailers by creating more modern commercial spaces within the station.”

ENDS