RAIL chiefs are hoping to have the first phase of their £5.5million refurbishment of Blackburn railway station completed by May.

Workmen have moved in on the station to prepare the long disused platform four for use, so it can be brought into operation while other parts of the station are closed for demolition work.

The old fashioned Victorian buildings on the platforms as well as the station shed roof are set to bite the dust as part of the revamp.

But that will mean the currently used platforms one, two and three will each be out of action during some part of the work.

Platform four is currently being extended and resurfaced so it is fit for passenger use.

Railtrack spokesman Nigel Barber said: "It is good that we have this extra platform and we hope to have it in use in time for when the summer timetable comes in to operation in May." Permission for the station facelift was given just before Christmas by Blackburn with Darwen Council which is including the project as part of its town centre action plan to give the southern area of the town centre a fresh look. To replace the shed roof a glass dome will be constructed and there will be modern waiting facilities.

Two old fashioned ornate clocks which currently adorn platforms one and two will be retained in some form as part of the new station.

The clocks will be removed when demolition work begins on the buildings on platforms one and three.

Meanwhile, other stations in East Lancashire may be set for refurbishment as part of Railtrack's £27billion spending pledge for the nation's railways.

A promise of work on other stations in the area was made as part of the announcement although no specific details have been released.

Work to increase line speed on the main route through East Lancashire to Yorkshire to the east and Preston to the west is also proposed.

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