POTENTIAL sites for a new rail station’s platforms in a Monmouthshire village have been identified, in a major step forward for a community-led project.

Magor Action Group on Rail (Magor) has campaigned for more than three years to re-open a station in their village, and in January was given Welsh Government funding for a feasibility study.

The £30,000 provided paid for a second Grip (Governance for Railway Investment Projects) study into the project – and now the group has been told that there are three recommended sites for the new station.

Consultants Mott MacDonald said there could be parallel platforms alongside the Three Fields site in the village, or they could be staggered one way there and the other closer to Undy. Another set could be based near the Undy Halt footbridge.

Magor’s Paul Turner said: “Getting to this point has been great because 12 months ago we weren’t sure whether we would get to this stage.”

Mr Turner said the Grip study suggested two-and-a-half minutes might be added to journey times.

At Monmouthshire council’s strategic transport group last week, chairman David Dovey said the group could be a major beneficiary of the county council’s involvement in the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, unveiled last month.

“I think this is going to be a great opportunity for Magor and it’s one area that could benefit,” he said.

This time last year Cllr Dovey’s group had Magor ranked as its 28th most important project in the county. It is now ranked fourth.

The last rail station in Magor closed in 1964 – a victim of the widespread Beeching cuts – having been open since the 1850s.