A NEW railway project for the Wye Valley has risen out of the ashes of the collapsed Sustrans plan to open a traffic free cycle path between Chepstow and Tintern.

For years steam enthusiasts have nursed plans to reopen the famous line which once ran from Chepstow to Monmouth. But schemes always faltered for lack of funds.

However, in the wake of the failed Sustrans proposal, a new group is proposing a narrow gauge railway which would share the trackbed with a cycle path to provide a twin link to Tintern.

Spokesman Edward Dyer said the project was at a very early stage but was being proposed by a group of people mainly from the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.

"It is being discussed on line and we are trying to establish what level of support there would be before we push ahead with the project," he said.

Mr Dyer said the Sustrans group had already been approached as had the owners of Tintern quarry from which there could be a loading bay.

He said he believed the joint project could attract heritage funding, especially so after the Olympics when more money would be available.

He told the Review: "We have plans to reach from the site of Tidenham station – now adjacent to the diving centre at Dayhouse Quarry – and advance through the existing tunnel, along the banks of the Wye and terminate at Tintern itself, leaving a short walk across the bridge into Tintern village."

Mr Dyer added: "We are hoping that this will take the form of a narrow gauge system much like the Welsh Highland Railway, sharing the trackbed with a cycle path, thus providing both a rail and cycle link to Tintern and possibly beyond.

"We feel that a dual use trackbed would benefit the local economy to a much larger extent than a purely cycle-based route and due to the loss of funding for the Sustrans proposal of converting the trackbed into a single use cycle corridor we feel that now is the perfect time to attempt a relaying project."

Sustrans say they are sad to announce that despite the legal challenge to the path being thrown out of the High Court, they have had to reallocate the funds for the Wye Valley project elsewhere.

"The five year funding window in which the Connect2 lottery money has to be spent ends in December 2012 and is not flexible. The planning delays from Monmouthshire have meant that Sustrans have been forced to make this difficult decision," they say.

However, they say they remain fully committed to the Wye Valley path and will continue to push for planning permission.

•If you want to know more and be kept informed of any meetings, contact: [email protected]">[email protected] or on Facebook at 'Rebuilding the Wye Valley Railway'. Alternatively write to Wye Valley Railway Group, Flat 12, 45, Cathedral Way, Cardiff CF11 9HD.