That is the hope of a railway group which has just held "encouraging" talks with Wyre Council about the plans.

Poulton and Wyre Railway Society is currently in negotiations with Network Rail and hopes to secure the purchase of the old train lines from Burn Naze to Fleetwood's Jameson Road.

Not only will the line running into Fleetwood re-open, but a new station is to be built behind Fylde Ice's "Party Ice" buildings on the docks.

Fleetwood lost its rail link in the 1960s after a Government-led wave of closures across Britain, and both residents and businesses in the town have been rueing its closure ever since.

Dennis Goy, secretary of the society, said: "If all goes well, we hope the railway will be running into Fleetwood within the next three years. The outcome of last week's meeting with the council was really positive and plans are at an advanced stage to bring the trains back into Fleetwood.

"We hope to take traffic off the A587; the line will run as a commuter service weekdays and a heritage line at weekends with steam engines. We also hope to construct a shop, café as possible museum in the Fleetwood station."

The society, which was established three years ago, has already had success in transforming the derelict line at Thornton into a working line as well as renovating Poulton Junction, which is now in operation. It has nearly 200 members, with many backers, such as Northern Rail, NPL estates and Lancashire County Council.

"The line will bring masses of new visitors to the town and will boost the local economy. It will also allow the people of Fleetwood to travel by train to wherever they want".

Charles Yost, economic development officer for Wyre Council, said: "We are highly supportive of these plans; alongside NPL estates, the council has carried out a feasibility study into the future rail link.

"We are adding our weight behind the idea of an integration of the Fylde's rail links to Fleetwood and are approaching the appropriate Government and European departments with the plans following our discussions."