BOLTON’S train stations are set for a massive facelift — and local rail users are being given their say on how they should look.

Network Rail has set aside £3.25 billion to improve more than 2,000 stations across the country as part of a five year investment programme.

Six local stations are included in the ambitious plans.

Now the organisation wants Bolton train passengers to draw up their own wishlist of how the cash should be spent.

Some major improvement work has already been agreed, including a £4 million overhaul of Bolton Station, but Network Rail — which owns and maintains the country’s rail infrastructure — says the majority of cash will not be spent until passengers have made their views known.

Stations at Bromley Cross, Farnworth, Kearsley, Lostock and Adlington have all been named on the firm’s “Action Stations” list, which has identified the stations most in need of improvement.

Robin Gisby, operations and customer service director, Network Rail, said: “Stations are the railways’ shop-front and they have been ignored for too long.

“With the punctuality of the railways now running at record levels and our major programme to boost capacity and provide more seats on trains under way, we can now look at other priorities and stations are at the top of the list.”

A massive research project will start later this month, last for up to three months and involve on-line surveys, telephone surveys and focus groups to find out what passengers rate as the most important things to have at their stations.

It could be small scale projects such as new CCTV cameras, general clean-ups or things like new retail units or heated shelters.

The move has been welcomed by local rail campaigners.

Preva Crossley, from the Greater Manchester Transport Campaign, said: “I would say anything that gets the views of passengers has to be a good idea and if Network Rail take on board the comments then great.The voluntary sector, in the form of station groups, do so much but this would be a massive boost.”

Passengers can have their say on what their station needs by logging on to www.networkrail.co.uk/actionstations andrew.greaves@theboltonnews.co.uk