East Midlands Trains has been having trouible finding rolling stock to run the service, but it now looks certain the link will be open early in the new year.

Rail campaigner David Fursdon has received a letter from the franchise manager saying the service will start in early 2009.

Mr Fursdon, a member of the campaign group Railfuture, said: "We are confident the new Corby to London rail service will now begin not long after the turn of the New Year.

"To have missed the original opening date of mid December is disappointing but we have always maintained it would be better to wait a little longer if that meant better trains and a reliable service.

"Although the Department for Transport is not naming the date trains will start running, we are very hopeful that Corby station will be open for business very soon now."

Oakham and Melton Mowbray have not had a direct train link to the capital for 42 years. East Midlands Trains plans to put on one journey a day each way to London St Pancras.

In a letter to Mr Fursdon, Margaret Lanyon of East Midlands Trains said: "In an industry where rolling stock supply is extremely constrained all parties have been working hard to achieve a reliable, quality service at the earliest possible date.

"Discussions are progressing and it is now certain that the service will begin early in 2009."