HIGHER electricity and diesel costs for running mainline trains are thought to be behind a move that will see the Dean Forest Railway in Lydney running mainline freight and passenger services on a national basis.

Talks between bosses at the Norchard based steam heritage centre near Lydney ran late into the night, as a deal was forged with the major national rail companies which will allow the Dean based steam locomotives to begin hauling trains nationally by coal power.

A statement said: "Recent hikes in the cost of diesel have brought the affordability of coal as a possible power source into reality. The locomotives in the Forest of Dean are well placed nationally, to take passengers and freight throughout the UK.

Coal will also have to be stockpiled in depots situated along the railway line, which will be manned by Norchard trained volunteers.

The Review was told: "We feel that the age of steam has returned once again, and we are fully anticipating that we shall eventually be taking over a large proportion of the rail logistical requirements well into this century."

A new national rail hub is also planned to be built at Lydney Station, with direct lines to London, Birmingham and, via new connections, Scotland. A new car park for the station 'is being considered'.

An official announcement on the deployment of the Norchard steam trains running nationally is expected to be made next Tuesday, (April 1).

•To find out more see this week's Editor's Blog.