The Hungarian Museum of Technology and Transport is setting up its newest member institution here, which will be a railway history exhibition place using the historical heritage of the station. The 137-year-old listed building will be saved from decay, according to the institution's statement.

In a resolution of 8 July, the Government Office of the Capital City Budapest granted the building permit to The Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology and Transport for the renovation of the former station building of the Kelenföld railway station. The work can continue in the possession of the licensed plans, the next step of which is to announce the construction public procurement - the museum's announcement quotes the words of Dávid Vitézy, General Director.

There will be a steam locomotive outside the building (Source: The Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology and Transport/Építész Stúdió)

The Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology and Transport commissioned Építész Stúdió Ltd. to prepare the licensing plans. In addition to restoring the original character of the station building, a contemporary extension enriching the new community and cultural function of the building will be added. In February 2021, the government declared the rescue of the Kelenföld station building a priority investment.

According to the announcement, the main attraction of the Kelenföld station building will be a field table with a floor area of hundreds of square metres, which will be organically connected to the railway history exhibition and will show the significance and function of the railway network within the city. The cultural offer will be coloured by temporary exhibitions, museum pedagogical sessions and community programs.

The Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology and Transport creates a railway history exhibition in the Kelenföld station building (Source: The Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology and Transport/Építész Stúdió)

In addition, the building will be complemented by a railway-themed museum garden and a new terrace towards the railway, which will also serve as a lookout point for trainspotters. It is planned that there will also be a bistro in the building, in front of which there will be a steam locomotive almost the same age as the building.

A railway-themed museum garden, terrace and lookout point will also be created (Source: The Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology and Transport/Építész Stúdió)

As recalled, in the autumn of 2019, Gergely Gulyás, Minister of Prime Minister's Office, and Tamás Hoffmann, Mayor of Újbuda at the time, announced that The Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology and Transport could save the station building. Following the agreement reached at that time, in 2020, the Prime Minister's Office supported the planning and the preparation of the investment with 100 million HUF and the Újbuda Local Council with 20 HUF million.

The completed plans won the support of the Újbuda Local Council after the Museum presented the concept to Mayor Dr Imre László and the leadership of the district. István Simicskó, the member of parliament of the district, also supported the rescue of the Kelenföld station building and the completed plans - the museum's statement writes.

Design render of the Kelenföld station building  seen from the platforms (Source: The Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology and Transport / Építész Stúdió)

Source: The Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology and Transport

Cover photo: Design render of the Kelenföld station building (Source: The Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology and Transport/Építész Stúdió)