RAIL chiefs have admitted their own 'millennium dome' nightmare as work on building Blackburn's new railway station has slipped three months behind schedule.

Intricate design work for the glass dome which will cover the platforms at the futuristic new station has taken far longer to complete than anticipated.

Work is now likely to begin in May, rather than February as originally planned, and the costs of the scheme have soared above £6million from the original £5.8million estimate.

Members of Blackburn with Darwen Council's Community Economic Development Board were given assurances that the new station would be built by November and fully completed by February 2001 at a meeting yesterday.

They were also told new temporary shelters would be put on the platforms at the station after complaints from passengers about being left open to the wind and rain.

Railtrack spokesman Keith Lumley said: "The dome is being designed specifically for Blackburn railway station and we need guarantees from designers that this unique structure will meet specifications. Once those guarantees have been met work on putting roof supports into the platforms will be the first part of the new building work."

Demolition work on the old station was completed in November.

Council chiefs have incorporated the new station into their masterplan to transform the town centre, which also involves closing Church Street and Darwen Street to through traffic.

The idea is to better link the railway station, Boulevard, Town's Moor retail development and planned new cinema complex behind the station to the rest of the town centre.

One of the improvements at the new station will involve entrances being placed on both sides of the station, with the new access being from Audley.

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