A BID to break the deadlock over re-opening of the Bramley Line is being considered by Councillor David Oliver, Fenland Council Cabinet member for Wisbech and town council leader.

Cllr Oliver said talks are being held with a view to the town council stepping in to secure a lease on the eight-mile stretch of track, between Wisbech and March, from Network Rail.

“We’ve discussed over the past year for the town council to be involved,” he said. “I am all for doing as much as possible for the people of Wisbech. If this is something we can be part of I will ask members if they’re happy for us to go ahead.”

He said he would want to work with the long established Bramley Line Heritage Trust “who have done so much over the years to restore this line. We would not want to be one of those groups that stepped in to take over – we want a solution for everyone’s benefit”.

Brian Baylis, one of the founding ‘fathers’ of the Bramley Line, revealed on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire this week that he expected it to re-open within two years.

“According to the information I got last night it could be within two years,” he told the Jeremy Sallis Breakfast Show.

“I will be perfectly honest, I’m a spiritualist and my late wife came through and she said keep going because you will be there within two years.”

Mr Baylis added: “We need more volunteers, more members, to come down and help us clear this line of all the vegetation and also to help raise the funds needed.”

He added: “This is strictly going to be a heritage line mainly to enjoy the olden days. That was the intention from day one and we are keeping that like now. It’s now called the Bramley Line Heritage Railway Trust.”

But pressed if the trust had been tempted to open the line up to paying commuters he added: “We would like to eventually.”