Campaigners hope a passenger line through central England could be open again as early as 2026.
Backers of the 31 mile Leicester to Burton Ivanhoe line believe there is enough of a case to get Government backing to reopen the track to paying passengers.
The line has been freight only since the Dr Beeching cuts of the 1960s. It is one of several around the UK that the Government is looking at bringing back into service.
