THE new-look Derby railway station forecourt will "make the city more welcoming to visitors", according to the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin.
He spoke after unveiling a plaque to mark the opening of the £2.2 million redevelopment, which has created a fan-shaped covered entrance area, new bus terminus, taxi stands and 148 cycle shelters.
Mr McLoughlin said he was pleased to see the improvements.
"The development shows Derby as an attractive place to come to visit and work," he said. "It's the first time I've seen the refurbishment finished but it won't be the last because I use the station regularly.
"With the arrival of the HS2 link in the East Midlands and the creation of Ilkeston station, railways in this area are undergoing a renaissance, when not many years ago they seemed to be losing their attraction."
Welcoming Mr McLoughlin, Councillor Paul Bayliss, leader of Derby City Council, said the work had been the result of a partnership between the authority, Network Rail and East Midlands Trains.
He said: "The station gives a very positive first impression to anyone travelling to Derby."
Ahead of the work, a consultation took place asking people their opinions of the existing station and improvements they would like to see.
Among them was the youth group Voices In Action, which said it thought the old-look station entrance "made Derby look as if it did not take care of itself" and was somewhere "they wouldn't like to be after dark".
After seeing the finished work yesterday, they agreed it now looked "spacious, modern and elegant".
Kya Mackay, 16, of Derby, who uses the station at least twice a month, said: "Now you can step out of the station with confidence, find good maps and road signs and it is very welcoming.
"It always used to seem very dark at night and quite frightening but it has improved now."
Fellow group member Analdo Arscott, 17, also of Derby, added: "We are delighted people took notice of what we had to say about the old station and our ideas for the newer-look station."David Horne, East Midlands Trains managing director, said: "We hope this encourages more people to travel on our trains. They will be able to access buses, cycles and taxis more easily, whether they are coming to visit or commuting."
Ahead of the opening ceremony, Derby Live staged a 15-minute dance show called Flash Mob, containing music with rail connections.
Taking part were three community groups – The Movement, Derbyshire Dance Artists Network and Spiral, a performance group of adult with learning difficulties from First Movement.
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