A MAJOR tourism project that could see trains back on the tracks in Berkeley could become a reality in a TV competition to win Lottery funding.

A group of train enthusiasts and local representatives have applied for a BBC series called Village SOS, in which the winning six team can get up to £400,000 Lottery funding for a project of their choice.

The group from Berkeley called Proactive Vision Limited has got through to the second round of the competition, after being whittled down from over 200 projects across the UK, with their plans to open up the railway line from Sharpness to Berkeley Heath and run steam train trips.

They also have ideas to use it for normal trains to take local people to Gloucester if demand is high enough, giving the town much stronger public transport links.

Mayor of Berkeley Val Watts, who is a member of Proactive Vision outside of her council work, said she thinks it would be a hugely beneficial project for the town.

"The idea would help this area tremendously. It is a very exciting and worthwhile project, We are just grateful that the BBC and the Big Lottery decided to do something like this."

The group had already discussed plans to utilize the train line, currently used just twice a year for nuclear freight, but saw the programme as an opportunity to make the project a reality much quicker.

If they get through to the final they would become part of a BBC series following their progress and would be awarded the £350,000 they need for the project.

So far they are one of 28 shortlisted projects and have now been given £10,000 towards plans, drawings and designs for their project.

"It is going to be hard work, but it is so exciting. If we win the funding it will be just fantastic, if we don’t we will go ahead with the plans anyway it will just take much longer," said Mrs Watts.

Mrs Watts said she would like to thank the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council for giving the group the idea of entering Village SOS.

Proactive Vision now has until March to get their plans together and the winners will be announced in May ready for a TV series in winter next year.