National Railway Museum staff efforts should be praised amid walkway woes
Sharon Ashcroft and her daughter Bethany from Huddersfield (Image: Staff)
The extended walk for visitors accessing the National Railway Museum (NRM) continues to be a talking point which is causing annoyance for many people.
The NRM is a wonderful facility and we are lucky to have it on our doorstep.
I recently visited the museum, and the passion and knowledge among the staff there was clear to see.
READ MORE:Getting to York's National Railway Museum: walk v road train
Hearing about the plans for the Central Hall, which is expected to open in 2029, is also exciting and will be a fantastic boost for the city of York when this project is completed.
But in the meantime, the disruption caused by the construction works is evident from the correspondence we have received.
One tourist from Cambridge directly contacted us to express their dismay at the setup at the museum.
The visitor told us there had been long queues for the rail train which takes people back to the city centre near the Minster.
"There were more people queuing for the train than there were seats so the unlucky ones had a 40-minute wait until the road train had made its round trip," he said.
Rachel Bentley and Mark Phillip with grandson at the NRM
(Image: Staff)
Our publication of this reader's letter picked up plenty of traction online.
Our reporter Maxine Gordon then tested the walkway versus the road train herself during the scorching weather on Wednesday.
She was able to get a real feeling of what people's concerns are when accessing the museum.
Our reporter Maxine Gordon heads to the NRM on foot and back by road train – which is best
(Image: Staff)
This included one visitor from Saltburn telling Maxine she thought the museum had even been closed due to the confusion caused by the temporary walkway.
While some children enjoy the experience of the road train and find it adds to the experience, others told Maxine they were even resorting to paying for taxis instead of queuing for the road train to get back to the Minster.
Despite this, it would be a crying shame if this access problem overshadows the wonderful work which the NRM staff do behind the scenes.
A lot of careful thought and dedication goes into running the museum, as I saw with my own eyes.
Clearly, the timescale of the Central Hall means this walkway issue is going to be an ongoing problem for some, but I am sure that many of them won't be disappointed when they arrive at the museum itself.
Whether it is the Japanese bullet train, the Mallard which set the world speed record for a steam locomotive at 126mph in 1938, or the 'Coppernob' 19th century locomotive with Second World War bombing damage still visible, there are plenty of incredible things on show.
As I was told when I visited the museum, it is not just a place for the rail enthusiasts. It is really catered for families and visitors of all ages.
The amount of stock which is not seen by the public is also startling, as is the logistical work that goes into bringing new trains to the museum.
While it is frustrating for many, let's not forget how lucky we are to have this national facility on our doorstep which attracts visitors from far and wide.