Pendle councillor Sonia Robinson and Burnley Council leader Gordon Birtwistle met up at Burnley Central Station to reveal plans to seek better trains, improved timetables and cleaner and more welcoming stations.

Coun. Robinson, who chairs the Pendle Local Strategic Partnership transport group, said: "We intend to promote the use of trains between Burnley and Colne and ensure it is a good service."

She also wants to see an end to trains being unexpectedly terminated at Burnley, with no facilities to carry passengers to Brierfield, Nelson and Colne – and often with no warning. Burnley Council is already battling to get the Todmorden Curve reopened to provide a fast link between Burnley and Manchester. He said: "We also want to promote the service between Pendle and Preston - via Burnley Central. There is a £100m. new university building right on the doorstep of the station and a lot of students will be coming here."

Coun. Robinson said: "It's important that transport services are co-ordinating with each other. You find one train leaves just before another one arrives, so there is no link. I'm working on trying to get better links between buses and trains as well as just trains."

Coun. Birtwistle added: "The rail company needs to spend some money on Burnley Central Station to make it look good. There is litter and rubbish slung around and it is not cleaned up. The station needs to be welcoming – it needs some pots of plants, seats and hanging baskets."

He also feels the need to knock down the two decaying empty pubs facing the station entrance. And he said: "A lot of the trains are sheds on wheels and we would like to see the trains improved."

Coun. Robinson said: "Fortunately, Nelson Station is being returned to its Victorian splendour with attractive colours and a pleasing look following the opening of the new bus-rail interchange."

The plan now is to work more closely between Pendle, Burnley and Lancashire County Council to improve the service. There is support for the Selrap campaign to re-open the link between Colne and Skipton, which both Coun. Robinson and Coun. Birtwistle believe it is a key factor for the rail services through Burnley and Pendle.

Coun. Robinson said: "We are working at ways to get a more consistent, vital service." And Coun. Birtwistle concluded: "We have got to improve our transport infrastructure across Pennine Lancashire and beyond."