Rail services near Gillingham to return to full speed next month
The track suffered buckling in the summer, with fewer trains able to run
Trains going from Salisbury towards Exeter St Davids, via Gillingham, will be able to run at their full speed and frequency once again next month.
Services have been reduced for the last two months, due to the tracks becoming too bumpy and uneven for trains to run as normal.
The clay-based track bed shrank as a result of the hot and dry weather over the summer, causing subsidence.
Engineers from Network Rail Wessex have been working to restore the track levels, with the job helped along by cooler temperatures and plenty of rain.
That all means services can get back to normal from Monday 14th November.
Claire Mann, South Western Railway’s managing director, said:
“I am sorry to all those customers whose journeys were affected as we waited for weather conditions to improve to enable Network Rail to safely remove the speed restrictions. We’re looking forward to implementing a full timetable and providing the quality services that our customers deserve."
There's only a single track in both directions there, which meant reducing services was necessary to allow for trains to pass each other without extra delays.
Mark Killick, Network Rail’s route director for Wessex, said:
“We’re still suffering the after-effects of a record-breaking summer on our railway, but I’m pleased we’ll be able to have trains running at full speed again soon, and I’m so grateful for customers for bearing with us.
“We’ve invested tens of millions of pounds on the West of England Line in the last two years by strengthening railway cuttings and renewing track and switches and crossings. As well as December’s track renewals, we’ve got even more planned in 2023 and 2024, demonstrating our commitment to all of the customers who use this line every year.”
More work to follow before Christmas
Engineers will be back on the West of England Line around Tisbury, Gillingham, Templecombe and Sherborne in December, to renew track and improve reliability.
SWR services between Salisbury and Exeter St Davids will be diverted via Westbury between Saturday 10th and Sunday 18th December while work takes place, with replacement buses for the stations affected by the closure.
Improvements will also be made at Gillingham and Sherborne stations during that work period.
Drainage will be improved, as well as track maintenance at both stations.