Rail users in Burley-in-Wharfedale are set to benefit from £136,000 worth of improvements to the village station.

Work has begun at the station and is due to finish by mid to late-May.

The major part of the works include platform repairs and tactile paving to aid visually impaired people.

It will also include fence work, drainage work, repairs to the waiting shelter and extensive repairs to the footbridge. A Railtrack spokesman said: "The work's being done as part of our £1 billion nationwide station regeneration programme and the aim is to bring them up to standards fit for the 21st century.''

Derrick Joanes, secretary of the Wharfedale Rail Users Group, said: "You expect stations to need this kind of work from time to time and I'm not surprised it's happening.

"But nevertheless it's very welcome that they are putting this sort of expenditure into Burley station along with improvements at other stations such as Menston.

"It's important to keep stations looking tidy because it encourages passengers to actually use the trains if they look in a reasonable state of repair.

"It's also important to make it easier for disabled passengers to use the trains so something like the tactile paving is very welcome.''

But Burley-in-Wharfedale resident Barbara Varney, who commutes to Leeds from the station, said: "To be honest there didn't seem to be an awful lot wrong with the station and it's unfortunate the money couldn't be spent on providing more services, especially in the mornings when there's a lot of overcrowding.''

Railtrack is also carrying out £88,000 worth of platform, car park and footbridge repairs at Menston Station.

Mike Harris of Burley Community Council, added: "It's quite a lot of money to be spent on a village station. It is well used and it is pleasing to see it is being maintained to a good extent."

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