Insights from COP26: Glasgow’s still game

By Ian Silvera

Has London Euston ever been this busy at five in the morning? Hundreds had gathered at the gateway to the North to wait and see if they were going to get home, to work and to where they had originally intended to. 

Those plans were eradicated on Sunday when first a tree fell on electrical lines between Rugby and Milton Keynes and then further stormy weather put the East Coast main lines down. 

What followed was a Wacky Races-style adventure to Glasgow, with COP26 attendees jumping on last-minute flights, booking out rental cars and some trying their luck with the trains.  Others sought shelter and got a room for the night. 

Come Monday it was a literal leap into the dark until we hit Rugby, with the train running smoothly and dawn breaking. We hurtled up to Preston, Carlisle and then finally Glasgow. 

Scotland’s second city has had a scrub-up pre-COP and despite the background media noise of a bin strike, which would have ran alongside a now averted regional rail strike, Glasgow had put on its Sunday best and offered up its unique charm. 

As we rolled into Glasgow Central, the sun began to breakthrough the clouds and bounce off the city’s cranes, a throwback to when this place was an engineering giant. A quick coffee and a friendly “where’s ya goin’?” and off to the COP26 area just outside the city centre. 

Despite the queues elsewhere — see Lobby Twitter — everyone is in good spirits, including the jovial bus drivers. Looks like Glasgow is still game, but is the rest of the world?