REMINDER: Nine day closure of Yeovil to Gillingham railway starts this weekend

Network Rail is reminding passengers that a section of railway in Templecombe will close this weekend for nine days.

This is to allow engineers to work on a cutting that suffered severe damage in the winter.

Between the 13th and 21st June, no trains will run between Yeovil Junction and Gillingham as thousands of tonnes of earth will be removed.

The work is vital to fix the damage caused by Storm Katie back in December 2019.

Thanks to the closure, Network Rail will be able to build a retaining wall to protect the line and remove the temporary speed restrictions (TSR).

The opportunity will be taken to carry out general maintenance in the area and refurbish some stations along the route.

The work will mean no South Western Railway trains between Yeovil Junction and Gillingham. Trains between Exeter St Davids and Salisbury will be diverted via Westbury.

There will be a shuttle train between Salisbury and Gillingham. A rail replacement bus service will operate between Gillingham and Templecombe.

Network Rail are reminding passengers that face coverings will be mandatory when using public transport from Monday 15th June 2020.

Mark Killick, Network Rail Wessex route director, said: “I want to say sorry to passengers needing to travel during the works. Once complete, we will be able to remove two speed restrictions to provide improved journeys for passengers, as well as protecting the area from future landslips. I would urge people who need to travel by rail, such as those who can't work from home, to plan ahead, wear a face covering and check before they travel.”

Alan Penlington, South Western Railway customer experience director, said: “We recognise these works will be disruptive, but it is vital they go ahead. The work Network Rail will carry out will remove damaging speed restrictions from the line, allowing our trains to run at planned speed, helping improve our performance.​ Alternative arrangements are in place, so we advise customers to check their journey before they travel.”​

Sean Hebden, framework lead for Osborne, said: “Our teams have been working extremely hard in the lead up to this important railway closure to ensure our works are completed as planned. We're aware of the disruption this closure will cause to passengers and will be working 24/7 to ensure we make the most of the opportunity to support the future safe and timely passage of trains.”

Details of the changes to train services are:

• Monday-Saturday
  • No direct trains from London to Exeter.
    • Passengers should change at Salisbury to continue journeys.
  • Trains will run every two hours between Salisbury and Exeter Central.
    • These trains will be diverted via Westbury (non-stop) and Castle Cary (non-stop) and will call at Yeovil Junction, Crewkerne, Axminster and Honiton.
    • A shuttle train will run every two hours between Salisbury and Gillingham calling at Tisbury.
    • Rail replacement buses will operate every two hours between Gillingham and Yeovil Junction calling at Templecombe and Sherborne.
    • Currently, on the line, rail replacement buses operate between Honiton and Exeter St Davids (all stations), Monday to Saturday. This will continue during the work.
• Sunday
  • Trains will run every two hours between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids.
    • Trains will be diverted non-stop via Westbury and Castle Cary.
      • Trains will call at Yeovil Junction, Crewkerne, Axminster, Honiton, Cranbrook and Exeter Central.
    • A shuttle train will operate every two hours between Salisbury and Gillingham calling at Tisbury.
    • Rail replacement buses will operate every two hours between Gillingham and Yeovil Junction, calling at Templebome and Sherborne.

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