Swadlincote Rail Campaigners Preparing For Next Step In Bid To Re-open Line At Castle Gresley

The Campaign To Reopen The Ivanhoe Line is preparing to submit its next step in the Restoring Your Railways process at the end of January.

The group is working hard to continue its work with Network Rail and the Department for Transport despite the sad death of chairman Geoff Bushell two months ago.

Geoff campaigned tirelessly to re-open the line, which was closed in the 1960s, and is due to have stations at Gresley and Moira, as part of a revitalised link between Burton and Leicester.

But CRIL board member Douglas McLay has provided an update on social media and says the campaign is carrying on its bid to get passengers back on to the line.

He posted: "I can reassure you all that the Campaign is working hard to get the line reopened.

"We are missing Geoff greatly, and working out how to cover all the things that he did for us.

"The good news is that we have been very active working with the Department of Transport and Network Rail to prepare our submission for the next step of the Restoring Your Railways process.

"This is due at the end of the month. I am meeting Network Rail several times a week, and the Department of Transport most weeks. They are being very helpful in supporting our cause.

"The feedback we are getting is that our case is well thought of and we are expecting to be approved to move to the next stage after our submission has been evaluated.

"So yes, our Campaign is being energetically pursued. And I'm hoping that we will be announcing some new blood coming on board soon to revitalise the Campaign's engagement locally."