On Thursday, I abandoned the train at New Street Station because it was clear I wasn't going to get much further very quickly, and tried to head out of the station to catch a bus. I left the platform by the escalators, and there were so many people on the concourse at the top, that there was a cartoon pile-up. People stepping off the escalator had nowhere to go but to crash into the backs of those in front of them. Ah, what fun!