Renovation work to shut NRM’s Station Hall for 18 months

The National Railway Museum’s Station Hall exhibition area is to close on January 3 for 18 months, to enable urgent repairs costing £10.5 million to be carried out.

When it reopens in late 2024, the entire roof of the Grade 2 Listed building will have been renewed, and the large wooden doors at the rear end of the building replaced by a large area of glass.

RAIL understands that the vehicles parked in the Station Hall, which include six Royal coaches and Stephenson’s Rocket, will not be moved during the work, which will begin in March after the main roofing contractor has been appointed. They will simply be covered over for protection.

The Great Hall and North Shed, with more than 40 vehicles and thousands of artefacts, will remain open to visitors - but not the South Yard outdoor area.

Separately, the entire NRM site is the subject of a major ‘Vision 2025’ redesign, which includes the closure of Leeman Road and building over it to connect the two main areas.

Station Hall, the former Great Northern goods building and two-storey offices, dates to 1875-77. The Great Hall includes the former motive power depot and the surviving turntable.