THE capital of the Cotswolds may soon have its first train link in 50 years.

Early plans are afoot to reopen the defunct line between Cirencester and Kemble, serviced by an ultra-modern, eco-friendly train.

Cirencester's Mayor Cllr Mark Harris is spearheading the innovative project along with Richard and Jane Gunner, of Whiteway Farm, to lay 5km of track from the commuter station to the edge of the proposed Chesterton development.

At a Cotswold District Council (CDC) cabinet meeting in April, Cllr Harris and Kemble councillor Tony Berry laid out the vision to fellow members, saying a car park could be laid under electricity pylons in Cirencester and a regular bus route could ferry passengers to the town centre.

They explained the proposal was being driven by Warwick University, among others, where researchers were keen to test a new driverless ‘very light train’ train it is developing.

It is hoped funding could come from county business promoter GFrist LEP, the EU or other funding bodies.

Cllr Harris told the Standard that proposals were in their early stages but if everything went to plan trains could be whistling along the track in three to five years.

“We’re lucky that it is already very flat, though there is still a lot of work to do, including putting up a bridge over the Kemble road,” he said.

“But it would reduce the need for parking, reduce cars on the road, and allow people in Cirencester to get to places like Gloucester and Stroud much more easily.”

Around 1,700 more travel in to Cirencester every day than travel out, creating congestion on the roads and pressure on parking.

A new train line with carriages able to fit around 100 people could ease these problems, while giving commuters a fast link to London.

Cirencester station was closed as part of the Beeching Report in the 1960s, along with thousands of smaller stations across the country deemed ‘unprofitable’. The former station in Sheep Street was one of the 2,128 which closed.

Mayor Harris and the Gunners are meeting with the team from Warwick University and Geoffrey Clifton Brown to discuss the idea. He hopes a cycle track could accompany the line if plans go ahead.

The move received tentative support from CDC deputy leader Nicholas Parsons who said it was “an interesting concept”.

Many other other groups in Cirencester have also voiced their support for the project.

They hope the move will bring down the Cotswolds’ carbon footprint while taking cars off the road.

To find out more about the project go to cirentrain.org.uk.