Rail passenger warning as engineering works begin between Salisbury and Yeovil

Rail passengers travelling between Salisbury and Yeovil are being encouraged to check before they travel as work begins to replace track.

The work is likely to add to the ongoing disruption caused by the impact of strike action, with further walkouts expected from Tuesday.

The line between Salisbury to Yeovil Junction is expected to be closed from this weekend for nine days to enable Network Rail to lay over one kilometre of old 1970s track that has reached the end of its life.

The work will include laying new ballast (stones) and sleepers, that support the track, on a stretch near Tisbury station.

In recent years there have been several emergency speed restrictions put in place in the Tisbury, Gillingham an Axminster areas due to the age of the track.

Jeff Rose, Network Rail’s Wessex programme manager, said: “I’d like to thank customers for their patience whilst we carry out this track renewal.

“Our engineers will be working on several other projects while the railway is closed to save any further disruption and saving money for tax and farepayers at the same time.”

“I’d like to remind passengers to check before they travel as there will be some bus replacements in place.”

Some of the smaller projects include refurbishing the track at Castle Crossing, as well as, installing platform tactiles to improve accessibility at Sherborne and Gillingham stations for those who are visually impaired and carrying out signalling upgrades at Dinton.

Peter Williams, South Western Railway's customer and commercial director, said: “This latest set of improvements will provide our customers with smoother, more reliable journeys on a vital section of the West of England line between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction.

“It has been a busy year for improvements on this line, and we recognise that it has been a challenging few months for customers travelling between Salisbury and Exeter St Davids.

“We are also reminding customers that, due to nationwide strike action, they should only travel if absolutely necessary from Tuesday 13 to Sunday 18 December.

“For customers who have no choice but to travel, rail replacement services remain in place on this section of the network. We are sorry for the disruption and thank customers for their continued patience and understanding.”

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