A NEW £1.7million project to cover platform four at Blackburn Railway Station has been unveiled.

The platform was the only one that did not have a roof, following a major £5million refurbishment 10 years ago.

The new project will include a lift so disabled passengers and those with luggage will no longer have to struggle up a steep slope from the subway to the platform.

The new canopy will be in place for the start of the winter. Bosses at Network Rail said that there was little need for the platform to be covered at the time of the 2001 refurbishment, because it was hardly used.

But now trains regularly call at the platform and passengers have to wait in a bus-stop-style shelter.

Network Rail route director Jo Kaye said: “The lack of shelter on platform four is the one thing that passengers have told us they want resolved more than anything. Now the funding has been secured, we will make sure they have the new facilities before the winter weather arrives.”

The work will be funded from the Department for Transport’s Access for All and National Stations Improvement programmes, and includes a contribution of around £250,000 from Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Brian Bailey; director for regeneration said: “This is another step in delivering our plans to improve the borough’s rail links and passenger facilities. The two shelters on platform four were always meant to be temporary and we are delighted the work is due to start.”

The canopy will extend to cover almost the entire length of the platform, including the slope from the subway, which is currently exposed.

Seats will be provided under the canopy, which will be lit and will be covered by CCTV.

The passenger information screen will be relocated to the underside of the canopy and there will be speakers for the station public address system.

To the rear of the platform a new windbreak will be provided which will incorporate the ‘Gandhi’ artwork that the station is famous for.

Work is expected to start next month and will take approximately five months to complete.

During this time, platform four will be closed, with train services diverted to alternative platforms.