From Tickets to Time Travel: Metro Museum Set to Open at Monument Station

A former ticket office at Monument station in Newcastle is about to become a new museum that celebrates the history of the Tyne and Wear Metro. This ticket office, which was once a busy place where people bought their train tickets, closed in 2015 and has been empty ever since. The door is now sealed with wood, and old posters advertising Metro services are still stuck to the windows, though they are peeling and faded with age. After years of being unused, the space will now be transformed into a pop-up museum that tells the story of the Metro system, which has been an important part of life in Newcastle for decades.

The museum will feature a collection of photographs and other items from the Metro's past, including pictures from when the rail system was first built in the 1970s. Visitors will be able to see images of the original Metro trains as well as photos of the trains that are in use today. Sarah McCourt from Nexus, the company that operates the Metro, explained that the idea for the museum came after a week of special train rides to celebrate the old 599 trains, which have now been retired. She said that not everyone was able to take part in those commemorative rides, so they wanted to create an exhibition that would let more people learn about and remember the Metro's history.

The museum is almost ready to open, and the team is putting the final touches on the displays. Although the exact opening date has not been announced yet, Sarah McCourt said they are looking forward to welcoming visitors soon. She described the project as a fantastic way to bring new life to the empty ticket office. In 2019, there were plans to turn the space into a small underground pub, but those plans were cancelled because of the Covid pandemic. Now, the museum will give people a chance to explore the story of the Metro and see how it has changed over the years, making the old ticket office a place of interest once again.