East Midlands Trains has consulted Rutland County Council about a service and have confirmed it is one of the proposals it is looking at.

Leader of Rutland County Council Roger Begy said: "Over the past 18 months we have been in contact with them about a regular service to London and we understand there is a proposal for one service a day.

"It will be brilliant for people who live in Rutland and work in London, and it is to be hoped this is the start rather than just a single train out in the morning and a single train back at night.

"It will be very much a question of lose it or use it."

Railfuture, a group which campaigns for improvements to passenger and freight services has long been lobbying for a service. The last time there was a direct service from Oakham was in 1966.

David Fursdon who has been a member for 30 years said: "There is a lot of interest in it, we are keeping our eye on the situation.

"I think it would encourage a lot of people to come to Oakham."

East Midlands Trains is launching a new timetable in September, and one return service a day is expected to be included when Corby station opens in December. But they remain tight lipped about their plans.

A spokesman for the train company said: " It is one of the proposals we are looking at but it hasn't been approved."

It is not yet clear whether Oakham passengers would have to change at Kettering on to the direct services into London. At the moment travellers bound for the capital have to catch a train to Leicester, and then change.

Rutland MP Alan Duncan said a direct line would be of enormous benefit to the community.

He said :"Oakham is Rutland's last surviving station and deserves a direct line to London. Oakham residents will benefit enormously from a train to London, not least from the new Eurostar terminal at St Pancras.

"They could be sitting by the Eiffel Tower enjoying a glass of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in no more than a few hours from their doorstep."