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The Museo del Ferrocarril will restore its historic image in Delicias
The Museo del Ferrocarril is undergoing a major renovation that will transform both the building and its relationship with the Delicias neighbourhood. The plan includes restoring the original architecture of the old station, expanding cultural spaces, and adding offices, training, and research facilities related to the railway sector.
One of the most visible changes will take place in the Edificio de Viajeros, the current home of the museum. The mezzanines added in previous renovations will be removed to restore the main lobby’s open volume, while a lightweight structure will house ticket offices, information, and restrooms without touching the historic walls.
The central hall will also be restored. Flexible walkways will be installed to allow visitors to get closer to the trains on display without altering the old stone platforms, and false ceilings will be removed to reveal the original wooden and metal structures once again.
The façades and the historic canopy will regain their original appearance, and the car park in front of the building will be replaced by a circular garden. The project aims to reconstruct part of the landscape that surrounded the station at the end of the XIX century and to create a more welcoming entrance from the streets of Arganzuela.
The renovation will also reveal elements that have so far been hidden. The old coal bunker beneath the building will be visible through a glass window in the floor, while the sheet metal roofs of the side halls will be replaced by wooden ceilings inspired by the original design.
The Nave de Fomento will be completely redesigned to host educational and outreach activities. Inside, a wooden and metal structure will be built with two auditoriums, meeting rooms, storage areas, and a common area prepared for gatherings, classes, and public events.
The outer wall and several sheds will also be demolished to create a landscaped courtyard and a new pedestrian street connected to the square at the back. This change will open up a site that for years has functioned as a closed-off space within the neighbourhood.
The complex will include offices, research spaces, and an educational centre specialising in railways. It will also reorganise the offices of Adif and the Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles, combining professional activity with cultural programming.
The project brings a transformation that goes beyond the museum: fewer barriers, more pedestrian areas, and a historic building once again visible from the street. Delicias will thus gain a space for passing through, study, and culture in one of Arganzuela’s most recognisable corners.