OUR fight to get the Newport to Ebbw Vale rail link open in 2005 is taking another major step forward - with Network Rail now admitting it could go ahead.

As the Argus revealed on Tuesday, trains between Ebbw Vale and the city could begin running earlier than the planned date of 2008 - with Newport transport chiefs saying it is more likely to be close to the 2005 re-opening of the Cardiff line.

Our Get Us Back on Track campaign calls for the Newport link to re-open in 2005.

And at last it seems as though there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Newport city council transport chief Graham Dally said on Tuesday: "The number of trains that go up and down that line is the problem, and we can overcome this by opening up platform four (at Newport railway station). This link will be open before 2008."

And yesterday a spokesman for Network Rail confirmed that discussions were continuing with local councils and with the National Assembly, about extending platform four.

He said the extension of the platform would allow "room to manoeuvre" the number of trains that could pass through - and could provide an opportunity for more traffic flow.

"Finance is obviously a huge issue, however," he said. The cost of the project has yet to be determined.

Richard Crook, head of business services and community regeneration at Blaenau Gwent council, said he was pleased Network Rail was looking at the issue very seriously.

"Part of what we are waiting to find out is the potential cost of this," he said.

"The Ebbw Valley rail scheme is not in a position to pay all the costs, so other parties would have to contribute as well."

He said it could be possible that other rail operators who would use platform four could contribute.

And he added he was "optimistic" that the line could open either at the same time as the Cardiff line, or around six to nine months later.

"Realistically we are very pleased that this has come forward and that Network Rail is looking very hard at this and working with us in a spirit of co-operation."