THE ARGUS campaign to bring forward the reopening of the vital Newport Ebbw Vale rail link is a step closer to success.

A Network Rail report published this June will establish whether opening the line at the same time as the Cardiff Ebbw line in 2005 is possible.

At present experts say the service cannot run until 2008 or 2009 because of congestion at Newport station.

Our Get Us Back On Track campaign has been pressing for the Newport link to be reopened at the same time, or before, the Cardiff link.

And now the Wales transport chief Robin Shaw says that all parties have agreed a new layout for Newport station that could allow the service to run earlier.

Mr Shaw, director of transport for the Assembly administration, said: "The proposals will mean the reopening of platform four, which removes a lot of difficulties and increases capacity.

"Network Rail is creating a computer model which will test whether an hourly service between Newport and Ebbw Vale can be accommodated." Network Rail says it will report on the findings by the end of June, it will then be a political decision about how to proceed.

Mr Shaw said: "If a service can be accommodated then there will be a debate about whether we can afford both the Cardiff Ebbw service and the Newport Ebbw service to start at the same time.

"That will be a time for lobbying and I'm sure that the Argus will participate in that process."

Reopening platform four and the Ebbw link is a key part of regeneration company Newport Unlimited's strategy for transforming the city and the region.

Newport Unlimited's director of planning and strategy David Ward said: "We have been working closely with Network Rail and the council to get the line and the platform open as early as possible.

"We are very excited by this development and it's part of our ambitious plans for the remodelling of the station and the city centre."

Blaenau Gwent Assembly Member Peter Law also welcomed the news saying: "Now Network Rail is on-board I see no reason why we can't get this line up and running in the very near future.

"Now things have got to start happening on the ground so Ebbw Vale can get a passenger rail service for the first time in 40 years."