NOT so long ago, Derby's railway station was nothing short of an embarrassment.

Dark, dilapidated and cramped, it made train travel a pretty grim experience.

The powers-that-be were acutely aware of its shortcomings and of the fact that, despite all of the impressive new developments in the city centre, Derby Midland Station was badly letting the side down.

It was also incongruous considering Derby's position as a world-leading railway city.

Eighteen months and £22m of Network Rail cash later, the station is a very different place.

The canopies have been replaced, the crumbling platforms improved and the station made altogether more welcoming and comfortable.

Early last month, Derby County manager Nigel Clough and Rams president and chief executive Tom Glick, unveiled a plaque marking the station's new era.

Since then, the feedback received by East Midlands Trains, which runs the station, has been extremely positive.

Managing director Tim Shoveller said: "As the result of partnership work between ourselves and Network Rail, Derby station has been completely transformed into a light, airy and modern station.

"As well as the £22m station improvement project that has brought new platforms and canopies as well as lifts, there have also been further benefits for passengers including new automatic doors and a new 'first class' lounge."

John Forkin, director of Marketing Derby, a public/private sector organisation set up to promote Derby and attract investment, said he had received "tremendous" feedback from station users since Network Rail finished the revamp.

He said: "This has not only come from people in Derby I've talked to, but, more importantly in terms of how the city is perceived, from people outside the area.

"It now looks like a modern 21st-century station. Before the work was done, the station did not reflect what Derby was about.

"People arriving there certainly wouldn't have been given the impression that Derby was home to the largest cluster of rail companies in the world."

But the work is not stopping there. In fact, it is only the beginning.

Subject to planning permission, the first phase of a regeneration project around the station will begin in the summer.

More than £3m, coming from East Midlands Development Agency, the European Regional Development Fund, Derby City Council, Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust, has been secured to make improvements that will further enhance the good work already done on the station.

The first phase, costing £1.8m, will look at bringing some order to the disorientating bun fight users have to endure when arriving or leaving the station, whether it be by car, bus, taxi or bicycle.

At the moment, car users have to battle it out with taxis and minibuses for the limited amount of drop-off/pick-up points outside the station.

The taxi rank is cut off from the entrance. People have to cross the road to catch a bus and there is nowhere for them to shelter from the elements.

There are also not enough places for cyclist to park their bikes.

All that is set to change with a new transport interchange.

Directly outside the station entrance will be a miniature bus depot, with a new shelter with room for four bus stops.

The taxi rank will be moved from near the Midland Hotel to nearer the station.

People arriving by car will enter the station via a new access road which runs around the car park off Railway Terrace. The revamped car park will include a larger area for bicycles.

And there will be a designated area to drop off and pick up passengers by car.

The plans have been devised by the city's urban regeneration company Derby Cityscape, Network Rail and East Midlands Trains.

John Cadwallader, chief executive of Derby Cityscape, said: "The transport interchange is the first element in a master plan for the development of the station.

"It will result in an improved layout for buses and taxis, more facilities for cyclists and a proper designated area for dropping off and picking up station users by car."

Initial plans were submitted to the city council last month. But councillors asked for the proposals to be refined as they involved the removal of a tree near the station. Derby Cityscape will submit revised plans.

Mr Cadwallader said: "I'm confident approval will be granted and work will begin in the summer. It will last about 12 months.

"The work will be planned in a manner that will allow the station to continue operating."

Derby North MP Bob Laxton is a regularly user of Derby station to travel to and from London.

He welcomed the latest phase of improvements and said that since the station had been revamped the contrast was like "night and day".

He said: "It's like a brand new station. We all remember what it was like. There was scaffolding all around, stopping the canopies over the platforms from falling down. It was dark and depressing. It was all a pretty grotty and uninspiring introduction to Derby.

"Now, when I arrive back in Derby from London, it is really impressive. It is open and light. It really achieves an excellent first impression of the city."

He said he was delighted that further work would be done to improve the user experience.

He said: "Anyone who has tried to drop off or pick someone up from the station will know that it is very much every man for himself, particularly when one of the London trains roll in.

"Integrating transport systems is very important. Once the visitor gets off the train at Derby it needs to be made easier for them to continue their journey on to the city centre.

"Some years ago, there was talk about a light rail system operating between the station and the city centre.

"We now have that designated bus route going through Siddals Road which is working very well. But when the rail user gets off the train it needs to be easier for them to catch a bus to the city centre.

"I think at the moment they have to cross the other side of Midland Road to do that."

Mr Cadwallader said that the new transport interchange was just one of a number of elements to the regeneration of the station and its surroundings.

Another element of the first phase of work involves bringing back redundant rail buildings nearby back into use.

About £1.3m has been secured from Emda, Network Rail and the Railway Heritage to refurbish a derelict rail building adjacent to the station and create office space.

Other proposals in the pipeline for the station also include a multi-storey car park and, ultimately, a new station building.

Mr Cadwallader said: "There are many elements to the jigsaw and the transport interchange is the first piece.

"One of the things we are pushing for is a new station building. The current structure did replace a very grand station building, but we cannot change history.

"What we can do is create a modern station which reflects the Derby of today."