A campaign by the South Wales Argus to re-open a rail link to passenger trains has received a boost with the news that a bid is being prepared for nearly £10m in European funding.

If successful, it would help fund the re-opening of the Newport to Ebbw Vale link - which could mean that the rail link might open in 2007 - a year earlier than planned.

The Argus launched its Get Us Back On Track campaign in July and has received 650 cut-out coupons from readers pledging their support.

The paper believes that the rail link, currently used by freight trains, should be re-opened at the same time as the Ebbw Vale to Cardiff line in 2005. It was originally suggested that the line to Newport might remain closed until 2008.

The Argus said that because of the closure, people in Ebbw Vale are being denied access to job opportunities in Newport.

Welsh Assembly member Peter Law said: "I believe it is thanks to the good work done by the South Wales Argus that we have been able to secure a movement in the plans of Railtrack - and it is quite possible we will see the link to Newport brought forward by at least a year."

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