Muppets

I've got fed up fighting my way down the platform at Birmingham New Street. This is the letter I sent.
 

Sir/Madam

Use of Platform 1

As you are probably aware, Virgin train services to and from London now arrive and depart from platform 1

You probably also know that this is one of the most heavily loaded trains to use Birmingham New Street, with a large number of passengers needing to get on and off the train.

It has also been arranged such that when the train arrives from London it stops at the extreme end of the platform so that the nearest available exit for all passengers is the single west end staircase (platform 1 only having two stairwells and no escalator).

To further complicate matters building work has resulted in a reduction in the width of this platform so that passengers have to squeeze through a narrowed gap to get to the aforementioned single staircase (and squeeze through any passengers waiting for the train). The arrangement of the London trains is such that the bulk of the passengers are in Standard Class at the front of the train and therefore have to squeeze through this gap.

The icing on the cake is, of course, that the train has stopped as far from the lifts as possible. Since the usual reason for someone using the lifts is that they are disabled or have heavy luggage or children in prams, this suggests a particular well thought out bit of planning.

Such an arrangement must, I feel, have been made by Kermit the Frog (or for the sake of equality, Miss Piggy), since only a complete muppet would have arrived at a solution that maximises the discomfort of passengers. The alternative conclusion, that Birmingham New Street is trying to maintain its reputation for being one of the most uncomfortable stations to arrive at, seems at odds with the changes that are taking place at the moment.

At the risk of disagreeing with Mr Frog (or Miss Piggy) could I suggest that the previous arrangement whereby the London service made use of platform 2 was restored? This then makes three exits available, one with an escalator, and if the train stops where it used to it would not require a major hike to the lifts.

If platform 1 must be used then perhaps the train could stop at such a point that makes best use of the stairs and lifts available?

Regards