THE passenger rail link from Ebbw Vale to Newport and Cardiff could take another step forward next week.

Blaenau Gwent council is due to give approval to enter into a joint agreement with Newport city council and Caerphilly borough council, that would largely take control of the £27m rail project.

Together the three authorities would be responsible for managing, progressing and monitorirng the development and implementation of the new rail service.

The Argus revealed this week that the link from Ebbw Vale to Newport could possibly open in 2005 - ahead of the link to Cardiff, which was originally due to open on that date. Our Get Us Back on Track campaign wants both lines to open at the same time, in 2005, to allow people in Ebbw Vale opportunities to find jobs in both Newport and Cardiff.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan (pictured) revealed on Tuesday that it appeared constraints on signalling near Newport could now be overcome, so public consultation on which line should open first could then be carried out in Blaenau Gwent and Islwyn.

But Mr Morgan said the Strategic Rail Authority would not provide revenue funding for both services to begin at once.

Now a meeting of Blaenau Gwent council's executive is due to decide on Wednesday if they will enter into the joint agreement with Newport and Caerphilly councils. Blaenau Gwent would act as the "host authority." The joint committee would have no separate legal status and would be unable to enter into contracts on behalf of the project's promoters.

But a report to next week's meeting, by chief legal officer Dylan John and chief regeneration officer Gareth Jones, says there is a "considerable risk" that completing the project could be undermined by delays in parts of the process, that could have been avoided.

"The project needs therefore to have in place a management structure to which all promoters have been committed, which can make prompt decisions as the circumstances dictate.

"The proposed joint committee will need to supervise, co-ordinate, and take responsibility for achieving completion of the project. In other words, it will to a large extent take control of the project."