RAIL users fed up of waiting in the wind and rain on an exposed platform were today given a glimmer of hope by train bosses.

Operator Northern, which took on services through Blackburn station earlier this year, is looking at the financial impact that using the platform is having on profits.

The move comes after it was revealed the company had placed ticket inspectors on platform four, and seen a 13 per cent rise in ticket sales as a result.

It is believed people are opting to pay for tickets on trains picking up at platform four rather than walk to other platforms to buy a ticket.

Often, however, conductors don't make it through the trains at busy times leaving people to get off without paying.

Platform four was left uncovered after £6million renovation work in 2002 because it was only ever intended to be used when covered platforms one and two were out of action.

But operators said they would continue using the platform because trains had to slow down to negotiate points to reach the main part of the station.

There is now concern at the company that a new station car park, being built behind platform four, will encourage more people to risk fare dodging, because they will not even pass the ticket machine in the station before getting on to platform four.

A spokesperson for Northern said: "Revenue checks were carried out at Blackburn Station over six months and during this period revenue increased by 13.2 per cent when it was compared to the same period last year.

"We felt it was important to show regular customers that these checks were proving to be effective and decided to promote its success through a notice which was displayed in the booking office window.

"A full review is currently being undertaken of revenue protection across the network. This includes looking at the issues at Blackburn station, in particular the impact of changes to platforms and the position of ticket machines.

"We are also looking at how improvements to the car park will impact on the ability for customers to purchase tickets before they travel.

"We will monitor the revenue protection situation across the network and continue to look at new ways of improving our collection of fares."

John Mooney, from the Rail Passengers Council, said: "Hopefully, the common sense solution will be to start using platforms one and two as they were meant to be used, putting the passengers close to the ticket office and in some comfort.

"That should be the main aim and we hope to meet with the operator to discuss this in the near future."

Blackburn with Darwen Council has confirmed it plans to talk to Northern but a review of the planning conditions attached to the new station has revealed they are powerless to demand it stop using platform four.