image: webbedduck, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Construction is underway on Central Hall and Railway Futures: The Porterbrook Gallery at the National Railway Museum, marking an exciting new chapter in its transformation.
The Railway Museum writes:
Earlier this month, the museum welcomed key funders and supporters to an exclusive event to celebrate the start of construction. Guests included representatives from Porterbrook and Mott MacDonald, alongside philanthropists whose support has played a significant role in bringing this project to life. The project is centred around creating new spaces that will improve experiences for visitors and explore the future of rail. Designed for all and built sustainably, Central Hall will create a welcoming new gateway to the museum.
Craig Bentley, Director of the National Railway Museum said: ‘This celebration marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the National Railway Museum. Central Hall and Railway Futures: The Porterbrook Gallery will transform how people experience the museum. We are enormously grateful to the funders, partners and supporters who have helped bring us to this point. Together, we are laying the foundations for a museum that preserves the past, serves the present and inspires the future.’
Guests heard from Craig as well as Mary Grant, CEO of Porterbrook, about the significance of the transformation and the vital role supporters are playing in making it possible. They then received a first-hand look at the progress being made, donning hard hats and PPE before heading onto the construction site for an exclusive tour, gaining a first-hand look at the early stages of construction, including excavation works and the laying of foundations for the future Central Hall.
To capture the moment in the project’s history, guests were also invited to sign copies of the gallery’s design plans. These will be placed in a time capsule, creating a snapshot of the project at the very beginning of its journey. As part of the build, a brand new gallery, Railway Futures, will look back at the extraordinary history of railways while encouraging visitors to imagine what the future of rail could look like.
Mary Grant, CEO of Porterbrook, said: ‘Inspiring a new generation of talent to join this great industry is of the upmost importance. Young people are fascinated by trains, and this new gallery will keep that spark alive by showcasing the vast possibilities the future holds. The journey of rail innovation does not have a final destination, and that’s the story that Railway Futures will tell.’
A spokesperson for Friends of the National Railway Museum said: ‘To be included in such a prestigious gathering of guests was a real privilege. Over the next 18 months it will be great to watch the progress of the building work, but to be ‘in at the start’ will be something which will remain with me for a long time!’
The National Railway Museum is grateful to the community of funders and partners whose support is helping to bring this ambitious transformation to life. In particular, the museum would like to recognise the extraordinary support of Porterbrook, Wick and Bonnie Moorman, Mott MacDonald, and other supporters.
