Ivanhoe Line campaigners are urging any new local MPs not to forget about the project after the General Election.

The Campaign for the Re-opening of the Ivanhoe Line has already admitted progress would be delayed by the election.

But now they want to make sure that it does not become an afterthought, particularly if a new government is in place next month.

In North West Leicestershire, both main candidates, Labour's Amanda Hack and the Conservative Party's Craig Smith, have already pledged their support for the Ivanhoe Line.

The line would run from Coalville to Derby, via Ashby de la Zouch.

It means the full list of constituencies is:

These are:

• Burton and Uttoxeter
• Derby North
• Derby South
• Hinckley and Bosworth
• Leicester North
• Leicester West
• Mid Leicestershire
• North West Leicestershire
• South Derbyshire

The first phase has received the backing of the Department of Transport.

CRIL hopes that candidates will pledge their support for such an important local issue, as well as clarifying their party's position on the Restoring Your Railways Programme.

Image: CRIL

This programme, which is crucial to funding the full Ivanhoe reopening project, is part of the current government's levelling-up drive and helps to finance community rail projects.

But railadvent.co.uk reports that CRIL has found no reference to Restoring Your Railways in any political parties' manifestoes ahead of the July 4 election.

CRIL Spokesman Douglas McLay said: "The support of local MPs has been critical to us in developing the Business Case to get the first phase opening to Coalville funded, and to our work to get subsequent phases through to Leicester underway. 

"Funding is in place within the government for this work to go ahead. 

"It is essential that this funding is preserved when the new government is formed if there are not to be further delays to work on the Line starting.

"Our supporters can do their bit by asking their local candidates to support the Campaign at every opportunity."