KEIGHLEY Railway Station's historic ticket hall is due to receive a £370,000 upgrade.

News of the work was first announced by the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin when he visited the town last month, and has now been confirmed by the building's owner Network Rail.

A spokesman for Network Rail said the work is expected to take about three months.

He noted that it would be completed during the 2015/2016 period, but could not yet confirm the precise start date.

He added: “The investment will help maintain this historic ticket hall for many more years to come and give the passengers who use Keighley Railway Station an even better experience.

"The station will remain fully operational during the refurbishment, which will means the work will cause no disruption to train services.”

Surveys to finalise the plans for the renovation are still being carried out.

The work will include re-roofing the station building, rebuilding chimneys, lead replacement work and repointing the station's facade onto Bradford Road.

The workers will refurbish the cantilever canopy at the front of the station which includes glazing, lighting and painting.

There will be footbridge refurbishment, which is to feature new roofing, glazing, timber works where required, lighting improvements and painting.

The ramps providing access to the station's two platforms will also be renovated.

Responding to news of the upgrade, Aire Valley Rail Users Group Tim Calow said he welcomed the plans.

"This is the busiest station on the Airedale line," he said. "It's really heavily used these days, as it's the point where people come to join up with the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway to visit Haworth, and it's right next to the college.

"The woodwork has been painted and the station does look pretty good, but some updating of the facilities would be useful."