Dorset train line closed for a week while tracks are replaced
Work's being carried out between Maiden Newton and Chetnole
Network Rail engineers will be working around the clock to replace around one mile of old 1950s-style track through Dorset from today (Saturday 24th September).
They'll be working between Maiden Newton and Chetnole near Sherborne on the Heart of Wessex line.
Part of the railway will be closed until Friday 30th September to carry out the essential work, which will provide smoother journeys for passengers.
Trains will continue running as normal between Weymouth to Dorchester South and beyond.
The old-style jointed track needs special care in hot conditions and can result in speed restrictions when temperatures rise, so an upgrade to modern standards will mean greater reliability because in time these speed restrictions will reduce.
Work will also be carried out to repair the steelwork at Damers Road bridge at Dorchester West station.
Mark Killick, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said:
“I’m really pleased our upgrade of the Heart of Wessex line is continuing and although we are taking a full week to do the work, it will result in much less disruption for passengers overall.
"That’s not just because doing the work this way means we’re avoiding having to close the railway over many more weekends, but because the new track will be much more reliable too.
“The old-style track isn’t good at coping with high temperatures as it expands so much in the heat and it means we have to put severe speed restrictions in place, delaying passengers.
“The new track is part of an upgrade that will allow us to continue serving passengers on this line during hot weather conditions. Further work is due for completion in February and March next year, ready for the summer.”
Ben Scott, GWR’s station manager for Westbury, Wiltshire and Dorset, said:
“This upgrade work will help to reduce the risk of any issues developing with the track or vital structures that might affect our services on the Heart of Wessex line.
“Unfortunately, this will mean that we won’t be able to operate trains between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth for seven days and buses will replace those trains.
“SWR will still run train services between Weymouth, Upwey and Dorchester South and they have agreed to accept GWR tickets on their trains as an alternative.
“We would like to thank our customers for their patience in bearing with us during this planned engineering work by Network Rail to upgrade an important rail link.”
This is the latest in a series of improvements to the Heart of Wessex line (which connects Weymouth with Bristol Temple Meads on the Great Western Railway network), that previously saw over four miles of track replaced between November and December last year.
Buses will replace GWR services between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth while the work's carried out.