Delicias Station, inaugurated in 1880, was Madrid’s first monumental station and remains, to this day, one of the most notable examples of the 19th-century iron architecture characteristic of the capital.
Years after it ceased passenger service, the Railway Museum opened its doors in 1984 in the station’s former passenger terminal. This is a unique venue for learning about the history of the railroad and its cultural heritage, and it also regularly hosts popular fairs and markets. Now, following the approval of the new Special Plan for the station’s renovation, the museum will be restored to its original appearance.
The plan was proposed by Adif in collaboration with the Spanish Railways Foundation (FFE), the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda. Its approval was supported by the Madrid City Council in plenary session. It received votes in favor from the PP, Más Madrid, the PSOE, and Javier Ortega Smith, while the VOX council members abstained from the vote.
The Objectives of the Renovation of the Old Delicias Station
In a statement, Adif has expressed its intention for the renovation of Delicias Station to restore to the Railway Museum “the monumental grandeur of the station designed by French engineer Émile Cachelièvre.” The goal is for the renovation to respect the station’s architectural integrity and historical value and to eliminate, as much as possible, the alterations made after its inauguration.
To this end, plans call for the restoration of both the old passenger terminal—which houses the museum—and the Nave de Fomento. Part of this space, built in the mid-20th century, will house the Documentary Collection and the Railway Library of the Spanish Railways Foundation.
Among the renovations outlined in the Special Plan is the restoration of the main lobby in the museum’s east wing. To this end, the mezzanines added during later renovations will be removed. The grand lobby will regain its original width and height of 14.75 meters and will once again serve as the main entrance for visitors. In the rest of the east wing, two exhibition spaces ( one indoor and one more open) and an amphitheater with a capacity for 50 people will be created.
The project includes the restoration of the facades of the station halls, as well as the structure and original appearance of the central canopy and hall. Furthermore, the exterior canopy, which is currently located at the museum entrance by the Central Hall, will return to its original location on the west facade, the former arrivals pavilion.
According to the projections of the plan promoted by Adif, the renovation of Delicias Station will make it possible to“restore the original layouts , turning the building itself into an immersive exhibition space.” Thus, future visitors to the Railway Museum will be able to step inside a monumental station just as it was conceived in the 19th century. For now, however, no specific dates have been announced for the start of the building’s comprehensive renovation.