Campaigners for the re-opening of the Ivanhoe Line in Ashby and Coalville have admitted the project is unlikely to go ahead - after being dealt a 'bitter blow' by the Government.

In her speech in the House of Commons on Monday, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced that she was cancelling the Restoring Your Railways budget from which the Ivanhoe Line reopening was to be funded. 

The Campaign for the Reopening of the Ivanhoe Line - which has spent years on reviving the route for passengers - says this leaves the scheme unfunded and therefore is in danger of being cancelled. 

The Ivanhoe Line has had freight running on the route since the 1960s. Photo: CRIL

But campaigners have not given up on the plans - and say they will urge the area's two new Labour MPs to fight to keep the scheme alive.

A statement from CRIL points to the pre-election promises of the MPs for the constituencies along the route, saying they would push for the line to be re-opened.

North West Leicestershire's Amanda Hack, and Samantha Niblett in South Derbyshire, both included the Ivanhoe Line among their priortities.

Now CRIL has urged both MPs to make a case for the Ivanhoe Line, despite the extensive cuts being made.

Until the Election was called, progress was being made on the line, with stations earmarked for towns along the route.

But now, the years of work appear to have been shelved.

CRIL added: "This is despite the newly-elected Labour MPs in the constituencies along the Line pledging their strong support for the reopening during the recent election campaign.

"Rachel Reeves said today that one of the government's first actions on coming to power is to cut a large number of planned infrastructure projects, including the Restoring Your Railways Programme from which the first phase of the reopening of the Ivanhoe Line was to be funded. This would be a body blow to the Campaign to reopen the Line. 

The former station in Ashby along the planned Ivanhoe Line route. Photo: Ashby Nub News

"The Treasury have stated tonight that the Ivanhoe Line is unlikely to be funded.

"The first phase of the re-opening recommended by Network Rail as part of the Outline Business Case study was to run a Derby to Coalville service via Burton. 

"During the recent election campaign the now elected MPs for South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire whose constituents would have benefited from the reopening pledged their strong support.

"In her speech in the House the Chancellor announced that there is to be a review by the Transport Secretary of transport infrastructure schemes currently underway to identify any whose benefits may justify replacement funding being made available. 

"CRIL feel that this review represents an opportunity for the local Labour MPs to lobby their government by highlighting the strong social and economic case already identified by the Department of Transport. 

"The funding required to bring passenger services from Derby to Burton, Swadlincote, Ashby and Coalville (circa £100M) is very modest in the scheme of things 

"Although the first phase of the reopening is to go as far as Coalville, CRIL remains

fully committed to get the Line reopened through to the mainline station in Leicester."

CRIL Spokesman Douglas McLay said: "After so much optimism generated by the very positive outcome of the Outline Business Case prepared for the Department of Transport, this is a bitter blow to the campaign.

"Now is the chance for the new Labour MPs in the two key constituencies, who were so supportive of the reopening during the recent election campaign, to roll up their sleeves and demonstrate to their government that the relatively modest investment needed will quickly deliver significant social and economic benefits to the A511 corridor.

"CRIL aims to work in partnership with our MPs to support their work lobbying for the line. We will also be organising a Call to Action to coordinate our local supporters to express their views to local and national politicians"

CRIL was formed by the late Geoff Bushell in 2019. 

He tirelessly raised awareness and support for the reopening of the Ivanhoe Line and formed a team of volunteer specialists to support him. He gained the public support of all nine first and second tier local authorities along the line, as well as all the local MPs, all of whom continue to support the Campaign.

CRIL bid to Join the Government's Restoring Your Railways Programme and was selected to participate in the first wave. 

The Programme provided funding for work to complete the Outline Business case and work is now underway to complete the Full Business Case. 

The indications prior to the General Election were that CRIL's case was strong.

Sadly, Geoff was lost to Covid in 2020, and the rest of the committee pledged to carry on his work to re-open the Line by completing the SOBC and actively campaigning for the reopening of the Ivanhoe Line.