The line was originally to have reopened in 2003

It had originally been hoped trains would start using the route in the spring of this year but now it has emerged that is unlikely to happen before 2005.

The reopening of the line - originally closed by a Beeching cut back in 1964 - through the Vale of Glamorgan to passengers is one of the Assembly Government's flagship rail projects.

When it was announced at the beginning of 2001, it was envisaged that the route - complete with stations at Rhoose to serve Cardiff International airport and Llantwit Major - would start taking passenger traffic in May this year.

But since then the timescale has slipped and slipped again.

The problem appears to have been the months of uncertainty which followed the UK Government's decision to wind-up Railtrack.

Agreement has been reached for the Strategic Rail Authority to underwrite the day-to-day running of the service but all the cost of all the building work will have to be met from assembly government coffers.