The first planned timeframe for work to start on the proposed new Ivanhoe Line through Ashby has been revealed.

Last month, the Campaign for the Re-opening of the Ivanhoe Line's case for a return to passenger rail trains on the route had been approved by the Rail Minister to move on to the next stage.

CRL spokesman Douglas McLay says he has been asked to explain more and, in a social media post today (Tuesday) he gave more details.

As part of this, he says that Network Rail has now 'been handed the baton' by CRIL.

They will now carry out a more detailed study of the costs of construction and 'scrutinise the benefits'.

If this confirms the line's viability, then Network Rail will be authorised to carry out the design stage with detailed specifications and costings.

When these are approved work on the line will start, says CRIL.

Mr McLay writes that work could start on the new line by mid-2024, with trains running 18 months to two years later.

It means that, if everything falls into place, then the line could be open in 2026.

But the line would not run straight into Leicester Railway Station immediately due to the planned remodelling of the main line in the mid-2020s.

In that case, a station would be built at South Leicester 'as a temporary terminal'.

Mr McLay writes: "In 2019 the Government announced the Restoring Your Railway Programme to facilitate the reopening of closed passenger rail services in England.

Our proposal was one of only three actual passenger line re-openings to proceed

"CRIL immediately decided to enter the competition to select the lines to be include and 199 schemes entered the competition in three rounds.

"In 2020 we were one of 39 schemes chosen to prepare a feasibility study (known as the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC).

"In June 2022 our SOBC was one of nine authorised.

"Our proposal was one of only three actual passenger line re-openings to proceed - the others are new stations or introduction of new services on lines already carrying passenger trains.

"The SOBC looked at the transport problem in the area, which mode of transport could best meet this need.

"A rail intervention was the best option.

"The SOBC then went on to look at the work required to upgrade the railway to meet the transport need and the cost of doing this work.

"Finally the benefits were examined and quantified so it could be seen that they justified the cost of reopening the line.

"The result achieved by our case, which CRIL themselves wrote, was that we were selected to proceed to the next stage.

"The Ivanhoe Line is now getting much closer to being re-opened.

"Network Rail - who build, maintain and operate Britain's railway infrastructure - have been awarded a substantial fully funded contract by the Government to carry out a more detailed study of the costs of construction and scrutinise the benefits.

CRIL will be handing over the baton to Network Rail, which we are very happy about.

"If this confirms the line's viability, then Network Rail will be authorised to carry out the design stage with detailed specifications and costings.

"When these are approved work on the line will start."

Mr McLay then outlined a crucial next step in that Network Rail will be taking charge of the lion's share of the work.

He added: "CRIL will be handing over the baton to Network Rail, which we are very happy about.

"Network Rail have been very supportive of our work, and have indicated they will use our specialised local knowledge and connections with local politicians and businesses to support their work.

"CRIL will be a member of the Programme Board.

The forner Ashby railway station is unlikley to be part of the relaunched Ivanhoe Line, which means a new site would have to be found. Poto: Ashby Nub News

"We will be using our position to monitor Network Rail's work to ensure they present our case in the best possible light."

The issue of where the new stations would be was also addressed by Mr McLay.

He made it clear that not all of the original stations from the 1960s would be re-opened.

In Ashby's case, that building is now home to a number of companies who use it as office space.

He added: "The detailed location of stations, access and car parking will not be decided by CRIL, but be decided by the relevant local authority planning authorities.

We know that Network Rail would like to have work on the ground started by mid 2024

"This will ensure that local communities will be included in the decision making processes.

"However it is far from clear that we will use the original station sites.

"They need to be appropriate to meet the travelling public's needs in the 2020s.

"It is likely that initially not all proposed stations will be reopened, but that more stations will be opened as required by local demand.

"CRIL will need to engage even more closely with our local stakeholders to help us carry out our role in the forthcoming stages.

"We will need to understand the needs of local residents and businesses more deeply than we do at present.

"We will also need to articulate the benefits that a reopened Ivanhoe Line will deliver.

"So we will continue to engage with local MPs, Local Authorities and businesses to help us to continue our work by informing our advice to Network Rail. We will also be working with residents along the Burton to Leicester corridor to gather their ideas and demonstrate their continued support for the Line."

Mr McLay addressed the possible timescale for opening the line if all goes to plan.

He added: "At the moment we are in the preparatory phase, which is essentially a political process.

"Timeframes for political decisions are always difficult to predict.

"But we know that Network Rail would like to have work on the ground started by mid 2024, and our best guess is that it would take around 18 months to two years from that for the minimum infrastructure to run passenger trains on the Line to be completed.

"It should be noted that building the connection to the mainline into Leicester Station will take longer to achieve, and is dependent on the remodelling of the main line through Leicester, which is planned for the mid 2020s.

"In the meantime a station will be built in South Leicester, which will act as a temporary terminal."