Rail track upgrades completed in West and North Dorset
Work's been carried out between Maiden Newton and Chetnole
Over 750 metres of 1950 railway track's been replaced in West and North Dorset, to help improve services.
Network Rail's been making upgrades to the Heart of Wessex line between Maiden Newton and Chetnole, near Sherborne.
The work meant the line had to be closed for five days last week (16th to 20th October) with buses replacing trains.
The new tracks are thought to bring 'smoother and more reliable journeys', while also reducing the need for speed restrictions during warmer weather.
While the line was closed, Network Rail have also carried out some improvements at Maiden Newton station.
That's included repairing the canopies over platforms and repainting throughout.
Overgrown vegetation's been cleared and general maintenance carried out along the trackside along the line as well.
Oliver Frost, Network Rail project director, said:
“I’d like to thank customers and local residents for their patience and understanding last week while we closed the railway between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth to allow our engineers to complete a range of key upgrades to the Heart of Wessex line.
“We know how important this stretch of railway is and last week’s upgrades are the latest efforts in a three-year period in which we’ve invested a significant amount to bring smoother and more reliable journeys for our customers travelling between Somerset and Dorset.
“We recognise many customers will have been disrupted during last week’s extended closure for which we’re sorry. However, these slightly longer closures enable us to really maximise the opportunity to complete a wide range of upgrades in a more cost-effective way while reducing the need for the need for regular, smaller closures of the railway which would be more disruptive to customers.”