A Measham councillor says the sooner the Ivanhoe Line rail link between Burton and Leicester comes, the better.

Cllr Sean Sheahan, leader of the Labour group on North West Leicestershire District Council, was speaking at this week's meeting of the full council in Coalville.

He showed his support for the plans and told councillors it was vital local authorities worked together to make sure it happens.

The Campaign for the Re-opening of the Ivanhoe Line (CRIL) has been working closely with the Department for Transport in an effort to bring passenger traffic back to the line for the first time since the early 1960s.

The line would see new stations built at Ashby de la Zouch, Moira and Coalville, among other stops between Burton and Leicester.

Cllr Sheahan said: "It's a great idea and I think CRIL has done a fantastic job, and it's just what the project needed.

"I'll say here and now, I'm pleased to sign letters that helps get things moving.

"I just hope that we finally see this coming to fruition. Back in 1997, when I was first on to the County Council, the first meeting was to close down the committee that was looking at it.

Measham councillor and leader of the North West Leicestershire Labour Group, Cllr Sean Sheahan. Photo: NWL Labour

"What you need to get this moving is plans, and also building up partnerships with the likes of Leicestershire County Council. Because, without those two things, it won't happen.

"And there's still a lot of work to be done with getting County on board with putting forward a subsidy, which might only run for a few years, but it'll get it off the ground.

"Because we've been talking about this for a very long time. Others have been doing it we've been getting lots of community rail lines all around the country.

"I think we are one of those needy areas, in not having a railway connection.

"The sooner it happens, the better."

A fellow Labour councillor has called for the planned new passenger railway line to be named after its original creator George Stephenson - to reflect Coalville's history.

The current scheme should see the route between Burton and Leicester re-opened in 2026 as the Ivanhoe Line.

The name comes from the novel Ivanhoe, written by Sir Walter Scott, which is set in Ashby de la Zouch.

But Cllr Terri Eynon told Tuesday's council meeting that an alternative name should be considered.

The Labour councillor said that the contribution of George Stephenson, a civil engineer during the industrial revolution and renowned as the 'Father of Railways' who had first stretch of line built, with his son Robert as chief engineer, in 1832.

Cllr Eynon also highlighted 2028 as the bicentennial of Coalville and that the re-opening of the railway line could run alongside that milestone.

She told councillors: "I'm pleased to hear about the National Forest line and that it's moving along the bureaucratic track and from a wished-for fantasy to practical reality.

"But I wonder if it's now time to consider renaming the line.

"In 2028 it'll be Coalville's bicentennial. Founded by two fathers, mine owners, William Stenson and George Stephenson

"Many of us believe that the re-opening of the line will be the re-making of Coalville.

"So, rather than naming the line after a romantic, regency fantasy novel written by a Scot - who published it in 1819, before Coalville even existed - could we not recognise the real creators of the line, George and Robert Stephenson?

"And re-name the line in their honour - the Stephenson line."