Nicolas is from Montois and “from a subjective point of view”, he says he appreciates the architecture of the place. “When you enter, there is a wow effect. It’s high, it’s big, it’s beautiful”he emphasizes. “Afterwards, from an objective point of view, did we need such a large station? Probably not. Did we need such an expensive station? Certainly not. But it’s here now, we might as well take advantage of it and focus on issues we have control over. There’s no point debating such sterile topics as “she shouldn’t be here.”
An opinion which will be generally shared by all our interlocutors, encountered between 6:45 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. Architect, Bernard was curious to pass through the doors of this new gateway station. “It’s a beautiful element, the space is pretty, the entrance is magnificent,” he admits. “Was it necessary? That’s another question… It’s a great operation for Mons but it will require a lot of maintenance. Who will support that? We would have considered 200 million, which would already have been very good, there was still another 280 million to build a new prison or a new hospital…”
“She is really very beautiful”
For Océane, the moment had something almost magical. The young woman said she did not really realize that the Mons station was finally put into service. “She is really very beautiful. I’m quite happy. We thought it would never be finished but it’s here, it’s really beautiful… It was worth the wait.” Manuel is a commuter and works in Brussels. This Wednesday, he was off… But he still came to discover the place.
“I find it magnificent. It cost half a billion euros and that is excessive; It’s not a station that the Montois wanted but the result is there. I think this will become a plus for the city of Mons because it will attract tourists and improve the comfort of travelers here in Mons. Hats off, even if the cost and the station are pharaonic.” In short, despite sometimes very virulent criticism, particularly expressed on social networks in recent years, the feeling was rather positive this Wednesday morning.
It now remains for commuters and Montois to take ownership of the place, and to wait for the signs to be installed and open. For now, only the Relay bookstore has welcomed its first customers.
