WORK on demolishing Victorian platform buildings at Blackburn railway station, as part of a £5.5 million revamp, has slipped behind schedule.

Rail bosses had hoped to have platform four open by the end of May so that heavy machinery could be moved in to start demolition work on platforms one, two and three, which currently deal with all services at the station.

Despite the appearance of scaffolding all over the station, contractors are still not in a position where they can bring the demolition squad in.

A Railtrack spokesman said the company wanted to have platform four in operation by today, when railway companies bring their summer timetable into operation.

But he added: "We have slipped slightly behind schedule and the heavier work is now likely to begin early in June." The roof and old-fashioned platform buildings will make way for modern waiting rooms and a glass dome roof.

Two ornate clocks, currently adorning platforms one and three, will be removed when phase two of the work begins and brought back to the station when the work is totally completed.

The rear wall of the station, facing out on to the Boulevard, is also to be demolished so that pedestrians in the town centre will be able to see trains come and go.

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