It's the end of the line for Weymouth's disused rail lines

Work is due to start today (5 October) on removing the disused railway tracks along Weymouth harbourside.

Earlier this year, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that Dorset Council was successful in its joint bid with Network Rail for funding to dismantle and remove the rails and to reinstate the carriageway.

They're considered to be an ongoing hazard to cyclists and other vulnerable road users.

The redundant railway line runs along the northern side of the harbour from the peninsula area along Custom House Quay and Commercial Road to King Street.

They are fully decommissioned and Dorset Council say they cannot be repurposed for other uses due to their deteriorated condition.

Network Rail is responsible for the old rail infrastructure, with Dorset Council responsible for maintaining the surrounding road.

'Removing the lines'

The first phase of work is currently scheduled to start today (5 October).

It will remove the rails along Commercial Road starting at Kings Street.

This work will include any necessary drainage repairs and resurfacing of the road.

The second phase of work will start in early 2021 and remove the rails along Custom House Quay.

Because the tracks run along the middle of the road, removal works will need to take place within a road closure.

'Advice to drivers'

To help the flow of traffic, drivers are being asked to help by planning ahead and thinking more carefully about their route into town during the work.

You may need to use a different route than usual.

For the work to be carried out safely, all closures will be 24-hours-a-day, with a signed diversion route in place to direct traffic around the closed section.

Work will start today (5 October) with a section of Kings Street closed for three days - from the Esso garage to Kings Junction - while the tracks are removed in this section.

Following this, Commercial Road will be closed in sections in a rolling programme - to minimise disruption.

A small section of Custom House Quay, between The Esplanade and South Parade, will also be closed overnight from 8pm to 6am, from 5 October to 10 October.

Engineers will be carrying out a drainage investigation and ground penetrating radar survey, which will help complete design work for the road reinstatement after the track removal in this area in 2021.

'Diversion routes'

If heading into town from the west/over Swannery Bridge:

During work on King Street, from 5 October to end of 7 October, traffic will be diverted to use Weymouth Way - Dorchester Road - Westerhall - The Esplanade - King Street.

During closures on Commercial Road, traffic will be diverted to use King Street - The Esplanade (northbound) - Westerhall - The Esplanade (southbound) - Custom House Quay - Commercial Road.

During night work on Custom House Quay, the diversion route will include South Parade for drivers to access Commercial Road.

To support the diversion of traffic along Custom House Quay, parking spaces between Cosens Quay and South Parade will be temporarily closed and Custom House Quay will become two-way during the work. Zone F Permit holders in this area will be able to use The Pavilion Car Park during the temporary parking restrictions.

'What will happen to the rails?'

The project team are working with conservation officers to develop ideas of how best to preserve some historic elements of the Weymouth Branch Line tracks.

This could involve maintaining a section of the track or some way of showing where the railway track was, along with information displays for visitors and residents about the history of the harbour and its impact on the development of the town.

This scheme is working alongside the Weymouth Gateway (Station) and heritage park and Weymouth Harbour Regeneration projects.

'How is the project being paid for?'

Thirty-two successful councils were awarded a share of £93.4m to repair roads and bridges as part of the latest push by the Government to improve connectivity, by helping councils fix key infrastructure, tackling congestion and improving journeys to make a real difference to road users.

The project to remove the old Weymouth Branch Line tracks was awarded £1.137m by the DfT.