Glasgow Central was Network Rail’s best-performing Scottish station in the three months to July in terms of growth in like-for-like retail sales.

The figures covering the April to July first quarter, released by Network Rail Property, have revealed an increase in like-for-like retail sales of 16% at Glasgow Central.

Network Rail noted that, during the same three-month period, the British Retail Consortium tracked a 1.4% decline in like-for-like sales.

It said: “The growth across the Network Rail portfolio highlights the strength and resilience of retail performance at Glasgow Central station.”

Hamish Kiernan, commercial director, property at Network Rail, said: “Retail at Glasgow Central station continues to go from strength to strength. Our latest sales figures indicate how travel retail remains a marketplace of resilience for our brands. We are particularly encouraged to welcome an additional pop-up to Glasgow and throughout our portfolio we are seeing positive performance supported by our retail and F&B (food and beverage) offer.”

Network Rail said: “Across all 19 Network Rail managed stations in Great Britain, total retail sales in Q1 reached £225.9m, delivering an increase of over £25m compared to the previous quarter and like-for-like sales increased 5% across [the] retail portfolio. Network Rail’s annual retail sales for 2023/24 surpassed £842m and were 2% ahead of 2019/20.

 

“Strong sales performances were supported by the new pop-up opening of Soctopus in June. Open until the end of the year, the Soctopus is an independent sock brand known for their vibrant range of socks. The opening is part of wider effort from Network Rail to diversify the retail and F&B offering across destination stations by providing curated pop-up experiences for passengers.”