Zero Platform Museum

En 1917, Alfonso XIII put up a large sum of his personal finances to create the Compañía Metropolitano Alfonso XIII, which bore his name in recognition of his large donation. In 1919, the first line of the Metro of Madrid, and of Spain as a whole, was opened. It consisted of one three-kilometer line which connected seven stations between Cuatro Caminos and La Puerta del Sol. To make a comparison, the current Metro of Madrid network consists of 292 stations and 14 different lines.
One of the stations affected by the growth of the underground network was Chamberí Station, which was closed in 1966 for being too close to other stations and situated on less-than-ideal terrain. Soon after, it became known as one of Madrid’s famous “ghost stations,” and, eventually, was forgotten entirely. The Metro trains continue to pass by it, but nothing more. However, in 2006, work began to renovate the station and create the Chamberí Station Museum, although this didn’t stop groups of vandals from entering and damaging parts of the station.

The recently renovated Chamberí Station is a place where many locals and tourists come to see how the subway was in the past century.

The station is really the same as it used to be even though it was, according to what the guide told us, a shelter for beggars and a dangerous place. From the station the white glazed tiles were preserved to give more light to the place. You can see those tiles in some other stations like the one in Sol. The same ticket office is there, with the prices detailed, the entrances (opening when they noticed the weight of someone) where the advertisement made of tiles are still preserved. The Gal and Philis lamps stand out.

This station is on line 1 of the subway network of Madrid, located in between the Iglesia and Bilbao stations.

During the decade of the sixties, Metro de Madrid (the running company), decided to make the trains 6 cars longer, due to the increase of passengers. But in this station it was not possible because it is curved and for the proximity with the other two stations.

They decided to close it in 1966.

In 2004, the renovation began with ceramics, posters, lighting... Everything is like it used to be. It is a trip to the past, everything perfectly renovated.

The first thing you see is a documentary of the history of the subway (interesting), sitting in what used to be the entrance of the station, and then you can go at your pace on the route, or with a guide. The entrance is free of charge and it is open every day except holidays.