Railway stations should be for catching trains not shopping
Maureen Panton responds to the report that the rebuilt Birmingham New Street and Reading stations have many admirers
Who on earth were those 92% who so admired the rebuilt Reading and Birmingham New Street railway stations (Glasgow Queen Street and Gatwick top poll of Britain’s worst stations, 7 May)? The concourse at Reading – the only place you can get drinks and coffee – is a freezing wind tunnel as the external doors are located so they provide a constant through draught. Last time I was changing there I had to leave the station to use a town cafe so as to avoid freezing. As for Birmingham New Street, the new look incorporates red, blue and yellow lounges – since when has it been an airport – and because the various areas do not always link up I find the layout baffling despite the fact I have been using this station since early childhood. Stations should not be places whose prime purpose is retail therapy.
Maureen Panton
Malvern, Worcestershire
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
Source: Guardian Transport
<a href="Railway stations should be for catching trains not shopping” target=”_blank”>Railway stations should be for catching trains not shopping