Shields Road Subway Station

Park and Ride! (£5 all day parking inc return subway ticket)
For years I’ve either caught the train or driven the hour to north Glasgow on the M77/​M8. I’ve often wondered about Shields Road Park and Ride subway station, but until this week never had the opportunity to check it out.
Well blow me down if this isn’t the best way to get into the city centre without all the hassle of fighting my way through that last few miles of gridlock, or trying to find an affordable parking space. I used the facility late morning/​midweek. There were plenty of parking bays available outside the station, and probably plenty in the multi-​storey car park too.
It was quite a straightforward procedure. I took a ticket at the barrier on my way in, parked, then showed it to the lady at the subway ticket booth. Five pounds was handed over in return for a return subway ticket and the parking ticket which would get me out through the barrier on my return. Worked a treat, and really suited my travel plans.
Its opposite the Scotland Street School Museum so I managed to get a little photo opportunity to boot. Win win!

I first parked at Shields Road by accident, I’d gotten myself lost in the confusing streets of Tradeston and couldn’t find Bridge Street. I now prefer Shields Road, so it all worked out well in the end.
It’s easy to get to off the M8 or M77, so is very handy if you’re coming from the south or east. It’s located opposite the beautiful Scotland Street School which is always nice to look at early in the morning! There is a multi storey carpark as well as an outdoor parking area, meaning there is always lots of parking spaces no matter what time of day you arrive. I always just park in the outdoor area as I hate the monotony of driving up and down levels trying to find a spot. From the outside carpark it is maybe a 3 minute walk to the underground which even on a wet weather day is bearable (with a brolly).
The station itself is small and simple. One platform, inner circle on the left, outer on the right and trains come about every 5 minutes so you’re not waiting long. From Shields Road it’s 8 minutes to Buchanan Street, or 6 minutes to St Enoch (my two main stations).
For car parking and a return underground ticket you’ll pay £5 which I think is great value, especially now that onstreet parking in the city centre has gone up again.
I often take advantage of The Fish People shop when returning to my car to pick up some fresh fish for dinner that night, which is very handy. I can’t think of what Shields Road would need to get this to be a 5 star review, I guess I’m just not that passionate about public transport. Fun fact: I was petrified of the underground for at least a year.

Shields Road Subway serves as a stop for commutors on their way to work. It’s a good place to park the car to avoid the busy drama of going right into the city centre.
Whenever my dad took me for a trip into town when I was little we would always go via Shield Road, he would park the car and there was always ample parking places here. I used to love walking along the walkway down to the platform, when there was a train passing there would always be a huge gust of air which added to my sense of adventure. It was also the first Subway where I discovered that I love the smell of Subways, you know that damp smell. I know it sounds disgusting but I love it!

Of the several somewhat superfluous stops on the Clockwork Orange, Shields Road has to be the most bemusing.
Situated within a stones throw of West Street underground it’s not at all obvious who this stop is here to serve, or where it takes people to.
I guess if you happen to live directly next door to you would see it as an extremely handy resource. I don’t, so I don’t. Two stars.

It’s a subway station, more or less the same as the others on the Glasgow underground (known as the Clockwork Orange). However, I have never been quite sure who this station is supposed to serve: it is close to another station, and seems to be in the middle of nowhere. I suppose it is good for the Quay complex of cinema, bingo and bowling… the clue is probably in the car park and the proximity of the motorway. This is the one where people can leave their cars and catch the tube into town.
That’s a great idea in theory, but since the city is only over the bridge, it might not be that much more difficult just to drive into the city centre, thereby adding to the congestion. It is part of the Clockwork Orange’s charm, that it describes a perfect circle around the city and doesn’t quite manage to take in much of the southside, I suppose. But a more integrated and expansive network would make a real difference to Glasgow’s increasingly jammed city centre.

Confusingly, this stop is actually located on Scotland Street.
The station also has a large, fairly new Park & Ride car park and is well placed for the Scotland Street School Museum, which I would recommend visiting.
It is ridiculously near West Street Subway, which probably contributes to the fact that these are two of the quietest stops. The surrounding area is mainly made up of car dealerships, and it is evident that this is somewhere you would drive through as it is not vert pedestrian-​friendly.