RAIL giant Railtrack has announced plans to spend more than £1 million on improvements to stations in Craven.

The package is part of a major regeneration programme with facelifts planned for 2,500 stations across the country.

The programme includes repair and renewal of buildings, roofs and footbridges, and enhanced station facilities to provide a more pleasant environment for rail travellers.

Nine stations in Craven are to benefit from the latest investment. They are:

* Clapham, which is to have platform alterations and repairs to fencing.

* Cononley, alterations to the platform to bring it up to the right height and repairs to the car park access road and fencing.

* Gargrave, repairs to the waiting shelter as well as platform alterations and fencing repairs.

* Giggleswick, replacing lighting, bringing the platform to the right height and fencing repairs.

* Hellifield (pictured right) is having the most amount of money spent on it, with repairs to both the car park and the subway, as well as platform alterations.

* Horton-in-Ribblesdale's improvements are still being finalised, but will include the access road and drainage in the car park.

* Steeton and Silsden will get footpath and platform repairs as well as electrical work.

* Settle, work should include restoring the station with repairs to the footbridge and waiting shelter.

* Bentham's work has not yet been fully decided but Railtrack is looking at the car park and access road as well as possible repairs to the platforms and waiting shelter.

Railtrack has also joined with the Railway Heritage Trust and the Friends of the Settle to Carlisle Line to fund a scheme to return old-style lighting columns to the stations at Hellifield and Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

"This investment programme demonstrates our continuing commitment to provide a railway network for the 21st century," said Railtrack director Nicholas Pollard.

Railway user groups have welcomed the news of the station facelifts.

Brian Sutcliffe, chairman of the Friends of the Settle to Carlisle Line, told the Herald: "We think these improvements are long overdue, and are delighted that work is going to start.

"A major factor in these improvements stems back to when Railtrack was accused by the rail regulator of not spending money on its infrastructure.

"Public transport is an issue and our aim is to make stations more user friendly."

The majority of the improvements should begin in late summer, although some will start in less than a few months.

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