PATIENT passengers waiting to catch a bus at the temporary line of stops in the Morledge can only look longingly at the covered, bright new bus station rising from the land next to them.

Even on the brink of it being handed over to the city council, there is another twist in the long saga of the building, which means passengers will not get to use it until February at the earliest.

The bays are marked out, the concourse is numbered, the waiting hall tiled, offices carpeted and toilets fitted.

Only the small retail section for passengers to grab a coffee and paper while they wait for their bus is still to be finished.

But bus companies say they do not expect to be running services from the new station until March next year and Derby City Council has blamed lengthy negotiations and construction work falling behind schedule for the delays.

Keith Myatt, spokesman for Arriva, added: "We are still in consultation with Derby City Council regarding the operations from the new bus station - "We envisage the bus station going live from March 2010. The March date is one we have been aware of for a period of time."

Councillor Lucy Care said that the delay was down to developers Riverlights Ltd not having the building ready by November 10, which she said had been given as the date for completion.

But the developer's director, David Osborne, said he had stated the end of November, which had been achieved, and he was now ready to hand it over.

Mrs Care said: "There is a big difference between November 10 and the end of the month in terms of getting things ready.

"It is a big project and the construction has not been under our control. It is also a big job logistically – working with separate private companies bringing their individual bus routes in and getting agreement to work together has involved a lot of negotiations."

And the process of securing a new bus station for Derby has certainly been protracted.

The original station closed in 2005 and was demolished in 2006. That year, original developers MetroHolst were forced into administration and bought out by Riverlights Ltd.

Since the station closed, buses have been using stands in the Morledge and Full Street to pick up and drop passengers.

The council was keen for the station to be ready as soon as possible, so Riverlights Ltd agreed that it would make that aspect of the £100m development – featuring hotels, a casino and restaurants – its priority.

In April last year the first sod of earth was dug for work to begin.

The council initially said the station would be ready by the end of this year.

Then in June, Councillor Lucy Care, cabinet member for planning and transportation, revealed the hand-over date was slipping too close to the busy Christmas shopping period and said the station would not become fully operational until the end of January.

The authority had not issued any further information about potential opening dates publicly since then.

But when approached by the Derby Telegraph, Trent Barton and Arriva both said they have been led to believe for "some time" that March would be the opening date.

Mr Osborne was adamant he had stuck to his agreement.

"We said we would have the base building completed by the end of November and I'm delighted that we have done that.

"I'm very proud of the building and the work of contractors Shepherds and I hope it lives up to the expectations of the people of Derby."

On the ground floor is the main, glazed waiting hall with entrances from the Morledge and River Gardens.

Metal seats are set perpendicular to the zig-zag line of sliding glass doors leading out onto the concourse, already marked out for buses.

There are toilets and a small retail area within the hall. Contracts are due to be signed with the retailers in a matter of weeks.

On a mezzanine level above are offices for the bus operators and the bus station management with windows overlooking the waiting hall.

In the levels above will eventually be two hotels, a casino and restaurants and shops.

Work on fitting those out has still not begun as contractors have been focusing on the bus station but they are due to be finished in summer next year.

Mr Osborne said: "We agreed with the council that we would do the bus station first. That does mean that construction of Riverlights will go on once the bus station is open but that won't affect its smooth operation."

The bus station floors are being washed down and its windows polished but it will still be another wait for passengers before they get a ticket to ride.