The new-look New Street Station passed its first test on Monday as thousands of passengers arrived for rush hour.
The first phase of the redeveloped rail terminus opened on Sunday but the start of the new working week was the real test of how the new facilities would fare.
And workers, tourists and others who had just come to have a look, yesterday declared themselves impressed with the first phase of the £600 million transformation.
Sarah Dovey, 36, was among the crowds being directed by dozens of staff through a bright new concourse and passageway leading to the Bullring.
The civil servant, from Oldbury, said: “It’s better than I expected. The old place was so dingy and I’ve had no problems finding my way around here.”
Patricia Claxton, 75, from Acocks Green, was taking photos of the station to show relatives living Yorkshire.
The retired shop worker said: “I couldn’t believe it when I walked in. It’s bright, it feels so big and the people are so helpful. We deserve it though. We are a good city. It’s nice to be a Brummie.”
Mum-of-two Bonnie Didcote said pushchair access was now much better.
The 33-year-old, from Marston Green, said: “It was like going into the depths of the Titanic to use the lifts.”
The station even received the international thumbs-up from Canadian Melanie Dioeadon, 38, who was visiting Birmingham during a two-week holiday.
She said: “We don’t have anything like this so this is heavenly.”
Retired college lecturer David Allen, 74, who lives in the city centre, just came to see what the new station looked like.
“I’m very impressed,” he said. “It’s a hundred times better than the old place.”
Students Amy Tutt, 18, from Lichfield and Anna Sergejew, 19, from Sutton, also approved.
Anna said: “The other station looked a bit trampy.”
Amy said: “It was so dark, this feels nicer.”
