Avanti West Coast has opened its new ticket office and first-class lounge at Glasgow Central Station.

As announced in September, Avanti West Coast has relocated away from its old ticket office on Gordon Street to the Caledonian Chambers, a historic location on the east side of the station’s concourse.

The old ticket office will be converted into two new retail units.

The new ticket office is located closer to platforms 1 and 2, from where Avanti West Coast services arrive and depart.

It has more ticket machines, user-friendly information screens, and two welcome desks. Staff will use handheld devices to help address passengers’ enquiries and to be more visible.

The new ticket office and first-class lounge are part of a Network Rail project to improve the station, which has the highest volume of passengers in Scotland, with an investment of five million pounds.

The project will also involve changing the layout of several of the current retail units and creating a Network Rail reception desk on the station’s main concourse.

It has also involved creating a new Network Rail station reception has also been created on the concourse level of Caledonian Chambers.

Access to the reception is step-free, in an effort to enhance accessibility, allowing wheelchair users and people with prams or luggage to use the facility.

The upgrade project is preserving the historic nature of the building, and protecting some of the original elements for the future. The Railway Heritage Trust gave Network Rail a grant of £52,000 to refurbish some of the sash windows on the building’s façade, which feature in Avanti West Coast’s First Class Lounge.

Network Rail has issued a video introducing the new facilities.

“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.”

Liam Sumpter, Network Rail Scotland managing director