THE first phase of a £35,000 improvement scheme at Menston Railway Station is due to finish this week.

Work on providing extra car parking spaces, the opening of a staffed ticket office and the installation of customer information monitors and closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) should all be in place within the next couple of months.

Around 30 additional car parking spaces to the original 35 space car park should be available very shortly and further spaces opened up by the end of this week (May 28) to take the car park up to 120 spaces.

The new ticket office is scheduled to open sometime in the summer and the on-platform television monitors to give customers up to the minute information on train times. are expected to be in place by the same time.

Train operator Northern Spirit is also installing closed circuit television cameras at the station to increase security.

Howard Keal, Northern Spirit spokesman, said it was a major improvement to the station.

"We're having a ten per cent increase on rail passengers year on year in West Yorkshire and this improvement package is a reflection of that increase in vitality," said Mr Keal.

He added that the ticket office was closed more than 20 years ago and its reopening would be a major boost to customers.

It had not been decided what hours the office would be open yet and would depend on customer demand.

"The CCTV system is being installed as part of the scheme and will be completed very shortly, it is quite a big step and symbolises the revitalisation of the railways," said Mr Keal.

He added that the platform information monitors were being installed to make rail passengers feel more comfortable by giving them the latest information.

Northern Spirit is also installing public telephones at all stations where there is not a public call box within reasonable walking distance.

l Otley Town Council has joined up with the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority in a deal to provide better bus facilities in the town. The deal, which will cost the town council £17,000 a year, will include a regular bus link from Otley to the railway station.

Rail passengers as well as people who live close to the railway station have long complained that the busy station was in need of many more car parking places.

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