RAIL users hit out today after it was revealed that the £5million renovation of Blackburn station has been delayed for another three months -- and it's still leaking.

When the building project started last September, after previous delays with demolition work, Railtrack bosses said it would take six months to complete.

Workmen have now been at the site for 14 months and it has been revealed that the scheme, due to finish this month, will not now be completed until November because of a number of problems.

Railtrack has also admitted it may not be able to stop water getting in to the station after passengers using the renovated underpass were forced to dodge water from a leaking roof which lets in heavy rain.

Renovations are being carried out by Railtrack and contractors Norwest Holst, of Liverpool, but yesterday no workmen were at the station.

The new waiting room, toilets and platform ticket office remain closed and the information screens, which relay information about trains arrivals, departures and delays, are yet to arrive. The lift has not been used, displaying the sign 'Lift Out of Service.'

David Butterworth, chairman of the Rail Passengers Committee for North West England, a rail users pressure group established as an independent voice of regular rail passengers, said: "The general view of everybody is that the project has not gone as well as it should." "We will be meeting up with Railtrack with a long list of concerns, the whole project is dragging on, being put back and back."

"The promised facilities have not materialised."

"The toilets and new booking office are not open and the booking screens are not in place."

"From the Rail Passengers Committee's point of view, we feel the input of the passengers has not been taken into account."

"They have been left to fend for themselves rather than being carefully advised."

"The station has become a real bone of contention and will be for some time."

Keith London, Press officer for Railtrack north west said the delay was longer than expected for a large-scale job and added: "The new completion date allows for the snagging process, where we discuss with contractors and train operator First North Western about how problems should be solved, and a few additional items that First North Western have asked us to do.

"Work at the station is 90 per cent done, but will not be finished completely until some time in November.

"As part of the regeneration we have put a mastic coating in the joints in the underpass in an attempt to stop it.

"In particularly heavy rain, we may not be able to stop it.

"To permanently fix the problem would mean completely lifting and relaying the track.

"The lift has never been in operation, because we are waiting for the manufacturers to train First North Western staff on the use of evacuation techniques in the event of an accident.

"The information screens are still to be installed. When they are finished it will be the first time that Blackburn have had these screens.

"The toilets and waiting room could be open quite soon.

"The ticket office in the station front is still in use because there is still some work to be completed in the new one. The missing cladding will be completed as part of the completion of the work. Asked why the work had taken so long, he said: "Problems with the demolition work and the domed roof meant that the work has just taken a lot longer than we originally legislated for." Passenger Denis Howarth, of Ambleside Drive, Lower Darwen said: "Things haven't been finished off properly."

Norman Ireland, of Spencer Street Accrington said: "It is a pity they couldn't get something basic like a leak sorted." Joanne Grieve, of Stopes Brow, Lower Darwen, said: "It's just not fair that there are no toilets in the station." Contractors Norwest Holt were unavailable to comment.