The chairman of the Campaign For The Re-Opening of the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL) has made a pledge to supporters that the group is 'determined to achieve a positive result'.

Geoff Bushell's comments come following the Government's announcement on Saturday (23 May) that the scheme has secured development funding.

During the Government's daily televised coronavirus briefing Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that the Ivanhoe Line - scheduled to run from Burton to Leicester via Ashby - would be one of 10 projects to benefit from extra investment.

However there is no guarantee that the line, with stations planned at Coalville and Ashby, will definitely be carrying passenger trains in the near future.

Mr Bushell said: "We are very pleased with this announcement and see it as a positive step forward, however, we recognise that the hard work starts here and the viability of our case still has to be proven.

"We very much welcome the opportunity to work with the DfT's experts in negotiating the various stages of the process.

"We have been working with the supporting councils and progress has been made in respect of the feasibility study and have the funds in place, however, with the Dft's expertise and extra funding we believe we are in a position to make a much stronger case.

"This is the best opportunity for the restoration of a passenger service on the line since the 1990s and we would like to thank all those who have supported, assisted and promoted our campaign and promise them that we are determined to achieve a positive result."

The new investment, in addition to local government funding already received, will enable CRIL to create a full business case for the line's positive impact both locally and also in connecting the wider network.

CRIL's vision for the line is that it will be a busy commuter route in the week with a half-hourly service at peak periods.

At the weekend the line will be used for tourism and leisure, particularly to the National Forest.

Proposed stations are Drakelow, Gresley, Moira, Ashby, Coalville, Bagworth and Ellistown, Meynell's Gorse and Leicester South, a new station adjacent to the King Power Stadium and other sports stadia.

CRIL is also proposing an integrated plan that interacts with bus services and makes use of park and ride facilities.