Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin was greeted by dancers as he arrived to open the new-look Derby railway station.
The celebrations were organised by Derby City Council, Network Rail and East Midlands Trains to mark the reopening of the station.
Improvements include a widened pedestrian area, a minibus station with interactive signs and a large new cycle shelter.
The £2.7m development took one year to complete and was part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Council leader Paul Bayliss said: “It’s a fantastic gateway to Derby.”
