MORE funding is needed to improve disabled access to train stations in and around Bolton, transport leaders have said.

There are 54 stations out of 94 that need improving across Greater Manchester, with 44 per cent defined as accessible.

And 10 of these have been prioritised as stations most in need of step-free disabled access, including Daisy Hill and Walkden.

Blackrod, also one of the priority stations, had work completed in 2012 to improve access for disabled passengers.

Last year, Greater Manchester submitted a bid to the Department for Transport’s (DfT) national Access For All fund, which offers £100 million for accessibility improvements between 2014 and 2019.

But no Greater Manchester stations were among the 42 approved for accessibility funding improvements.

Cllr Andrew Fender, TfGM committee chairman, said: “It’s unacceptable in this day and age that over half of Greater Manchester’s train stations are not accessible to all.

“Over the past five years we have worked with the DfT to deliver Access For All-funded step-free improvements at several stations, including Blackrod.

"We’ve also seen huge improvements in the number of low-floor vehicles operated by Greater Manchester’s bus operators — in the region of 98 per cent of all their buses are now accessible.

“So it very disappointing that our rail stations are falling ever further behind, which makes the DfT’s decision to deny Greater Manchester any Access For All funding at all over the next five years even more perplexing.”

Construction of Bolton’s £48 million interchange, which will be fully accessible for disabled people, is set to start by the end of the year.

It was also revealed this month that plans are in place for Bolton train station to reintroduce a fifth platform, paving the way for Scottish services to return to the town.

Network Rail is in the early stages of applying for funding for the scheme.