TRANSPORT bosses have pledged to put plans to revamp Bolton's train station back on track.

They have earmarked £30,000 for a facelift of the staton's well-known clock tower.

And £50,000 will be ploughed into a consultation study on how best to improve the platforms and concourse.

It comes a month after The Bolton News revealed a £2 million plan to modernise the station at the junction of Newport Street and Trinity Street had been scrapped.

Now transport bosses are discussing how they can improve the platforms and concourse - at a cheaper price.

The original plans for the platforms were estimated to cost between £1.4 million and £1.8 million and the concourse would cost £1.4 million.

This was too expensive for Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) to take forward with no other sources of funding.

At a GMPTA meeting, members said improving the platform and concourse facilities at the station was still a priority.

They unanimously agreed to put £50,000 into developing proposals for the platforms, and other sources of funding are being explored.

Cllr Nick Peel, Bolton's representative on the GMPTA, said: "There are growing concerns over the state of the platforms.

"The work which has already taken place at the station is very good, but there is still work to be done. The waiting facilities, disabled access and toilets are in a terrible condition and it is a priority that we address this.

"We are now making progress, but we need to do it as fast as we can."

The plans for the platforms centre on relocating the positions trains stop on platforms three and four.

A new covered path would be built under the Trinity Road bridge so that passengers can get on and off trains near to the stairs and lifts on both platforms.

Proposals for the main concourse area have been developed by GMPTE, Bolton Council, Network Rail and train operator Northern.

They include improvements to the front and side entrances, new shops and a major refurbishment of the ticket office and the main ceiling.

Cllr Roger Jones, chairman of the authority, said: "The railway station at Bolton Interchange is one of the busiest in the North-west and we share passengers' desire for major improvements.

"It's essential that the work represents good value for taxpayers' money - and with limited funding available we need to take advantage of all possible sources of funding available to us.GMPTE and its partners are progressing this and I look forward to receiving a further report, which details the costs of the scheme."

Councillors also allocated £30,000 to carry out essential work on the clock tower.

Work carried out to improve the bus facilities at the Interchange last year revealed problems with wet rot inside the clock tower.

Restoration work is expected to begin later this year once a contractor has been appointed.