WEEDS push their way up through the platform and trains pass through without stopping, but a campaign is gathering speed to reopen Lea Bridge station.

Trains have not stopped at the station in Lea Bridge Road, near Orient Way, for the past 21 years.

But, as we can reveal, not much work is needed for the platform and ticket office to be brought back to use.

The Guardian gained exclusive access to the station with campaigners Roger Gilham and Peter Woodrow of the Chingford Line User Group this week.

They are urging the council, the Greater London Assembly and the London Development Authority to do what they can to reopen a section of track, known as the Hall Farm Curve, to connect existing lines leading to Stratford and Chingford.

Mr Woodrow said that the last time the station was in use was in July 1985, but trains are continuing to pass through on the route between Stratford and Stansted Airport.

The former ticket office in Lea Bridge Road still stands and there are two staircases leading to the platforms.

Mr Gilham, a retired civil engineer, said: "Structurally the platforms and ticket office look sound.

"If it were to be reopened we would need to look into access for people with disabilities, but the new road would be easy to connect with a path to the station."

Newham Council is committed under a section 106 planning order to pay £4million for a future development of the station.

The Hall Farm Curve on Walthamstow Marsh is also believed to be in a relatively good state of repair.

Mr Woodrow said: "The track bed was surveyed around three years ago and there appeared to be good drainage. Very little work would be needed before track and ballast were added."

Mr Gilham added: "The fact that we have this agreement for funding means it should be easier to pull in cash from elsewhere. I think people are starting to recognise that London's centre of gravity is shifting to the east.

"The businesses in Docklands are a real draw and then there's the future Stratford City and Olympics."

Network Rail is responsible for the tracks. A spokesman said the organisation would not pay for the track to be reinstalled but would consider working with local authorities with the possibility of some funding if further progress was made with the campaign.

Earlier this month we reported that Waltham Forest Council was supporting calls for the link to be installed.

l Last week we incorrectly stated that a ghost train' is the only train that ran through the station.

We have since learned that a full service between Stratford and Stansted Airport has been running through the station, but not stopping, since December.