Prime Minister says direct Dorchester to London trains back soon
Parts of Dorset have been cut off from London by timetable changes according to one MP.
The Prime Minister says direct trains that connect Weymouth, Dorchester, Poole and Bournemouth to London will be coming back soon.
West Dorset’s MP Chris Loder gained Boris Johnson's support to force a U-turn on South Western Railways train timetable so that Dorchester, Sherborne, Yeovil Junction, Crewkerne and Axminster has direct trains to London restored.
Timetable changes that came into effect last month saw passengers changing over at Bournemouth Train Station to catch another train, further on, even if it was just to Poole.
At Prime Ministers’ Questions today, Mr Loder said:
“South Western Railway has totally cut off Dorset, Somerset, most of Wiltshire, and Devon from its direct train services to London, as well as slashing our service in half, most of which is totally unnecessary.
"Will my Right Honourable Friend support me and my neighbouring MPs in getting direct services back to West Dorset, and having a new timetable that is fit for our region?”
To which the Prime Minister replied:
"I want to thank my right honourable friend for his question. He knows where-of he speaks, he is an expert in this subject and he's lobbied very effectively for his constituents and reflected their frustrations.
"I'm told the timetable is expected to return to December 2021 levels from Saturday 19th February."
Mr Loder has also already written to the Managing Director of South Western Railways to demand an early service and direct services are restored.