A MAJOR breakthrough in the campaign to reopen the Ebbw Vale to Newport rail line is revealed today.

The Argus is fighting for the crucial link to reopen in 2005 - the same time the Ebbw Vale to Cardiff line opens.

Now we can reveal people in the Valleys will have the choice of which line opens first. The news - revealed by Wales' First Minister Rhodri Morgan (pictured), in an exclusive interview with the Argus - is being hailed as a major breakthrough.

But campaigners will continue to call for both lines to reopen in 2005 Peter Law, Assembly Member for Blaenau Gwent, has fought for around 20 years for the rail link from Ebbw Vale to Newport and Cardiff to re-open.

"What we really want is Cardiff and Newport lines to open at the same time," he said. "But we can't forget about Cardiff - it is the capital city of Wales." Mr Morgan, pictured, told the Argus there will now be public consultation on which link will be first to re-open in 2005.

The Newport line was due to reopen in around 2007, because of a signalling problem on the mile-long stretch of track. But Mr Morgan said that at the last meeting of the Corus Closures Taskforce it was revealed this problem was now solved.

Mr Morgan said: "We did not expect this astonishing news that the signal box is no longer a constraint. It is now a question of whether phase one will go to Newport or Cardiff. A consultation exercise will have to take place to get people living in Blaenau Gwent and the Islwyn area to see whether they want the service to go to Cardiff or Newport first.

"It is still not possible to get the funding to get both services up and running at the same time but whatever is decided, the other destination will follow as part of the second phase.

"The Strategic Rail Authority is very unlikely to approve revenue funding to open the two at the same time," he added.

Islwyn AM Brian Hancock said: "I welcome the news as this will be to the benefit of everyone in the Valleys. Myself and Peter Law say there was no reason why the link could not go to Newport sooner rather than later so it is good, in some respect, that Rhodri Morgan is listening to what people are telling him.

"I urge everyone in the Valleys to follow this issue through and have their say in the consultation."

No one from Network Rail was available to comment. Meanwhile, transport minister Sue Essex was attending a preview of an exhibition for station layout designs along the Ebbw Vale rail line today.