Dr Beeching put a stop to anyone travelling from Sudbury through Long Melford, Haverhill and across the countryside to Cambridge more than 42 years ago.

But last week the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) produced a detailed document with a strong case for opening up old track and stations.

The report was welcomed by the Cambridge–Sudbury Rail Renewal Association which has campaigned for many years to see the line re-open.

The Rev Malcolm Hill, chairman of the group, said he was buoyed to see Haverhill ranked 27th on a list of 35 towns in England that are under consideration for reintroducing a rail link.

He said: "We have great hopes that if any railways were reinstated we would be high on the list. Haverhill and Sudbury have grown so much since the closure of the railway and there's so much more industry. The case would be pretty high to reinstate the railway link."

He said they would be sending a report to the ATOC giving as much detail as possible to back its case.

Town clerk, Sue Brotherwood, said in theory the Town Council was fully behind any rail improvements but in reality the finance of such a scheme would be vast.

"When you look at the congestion on our roads there is no doubt the line being scrapped was dreadfully short sighted. It would have been a great asset to the region if we were still connected to Cambridge," she said.

"The practicalities of reinstating the line would be huge but if there was ever a possibility of getting around this we would definitely support it." she added.

For more than 100 years a railway ran alongside the Stour Valley. Each village had its station from Melford, Glemsford, Cavendish, Clare, Stoke, Sturmer and onto Haverhill and Cambridge. On March 6, 1967, the axe fell on the line. A bugler at Sudbury Station sounded the "Last Post" as the final train left Sudbury for Cambridge.