Hawke's Bay Regional Council interim chief executive Liz Lambert is "optimistic" about the outcome of the council's proposal to KiwiRail to get the Napier to Gisborne rail link up and running again.
The line was closed in 2012 after a washout during a major storm and has been closed since.
The regional council's focus on getting the line up and reinstated is centred on the logging trade because it was seen to be the most efficient way of getting timber from the north down to Napier Port.
"We are still one of the two proposals that KiwiRail is keen to investigate before they make a final decision," Ms Lambert said.
Napier-Gisborne Railway Ltd (NGRL) had also stepped forward to push for the rail link to be reopened - also citing the transport requirements of the logging industry.