HOPES are high that 1,000-passenger trains may soon be pulling into Rawtenstall after rail and town hall chiefs started talks with the rail regulator.

The opening of the four-mile Heywood Link to the national rail network - expected for September 6 - may make a reality of the 21-year dream that started when East Lancashire Railway volunteers teamed up with Rossendale Council and Bury Council.

Jon Haines, Rossendale Council's development services manager, said today said that talks had begun to entice rail companies to take out a franchise, meaning diesel trains could return for the first time in 12 years.

Mr Haines said: "These prospects all seemed far off back in 1982 and all the parties concerned are delighted that things have moved so far.

"The ELR volunteers will still run steam trains, but any full service will mean diesels.

"Such commercial traffic looks increasingly likely as the Heywood Link changes things radically."

Work is now almost completed on the link and safety inspectors will soon be checking on signal safety.

Their approval is needed before the line can be opened to national trains.

Freight trains are also a possibility although it is thought unlikely many, if any, will travel into Rossendale. Councillor Nick Pilling, chairman of Rossendale Council's development, regeneration and environmental committee, said: "Rossendale Council has been part of the partnership that has promoted the railway and has also contributed towards legal costs on the link.

"Such investment will pay us back many times over if commercial trains go ahead.

"Such a connection could mean anything up to 1,000 visitors a time arriving in Rossendale and spending their money with local businesses."

Work has already started on extending Rawtenstall Station's platform to accommodate larger trains and should be completed by the end of the summer.