Passenger services between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth on the Heart of Wessex Line have been restored, following nine days of upgrade work by Network Rail.

During the closure, engineers worked to reinforce embankments near Evershot Tunnel, between Chetnole and Maiden Newton.

Crews excavated sections of soil and rock before securing the slope with soil nails and protective netting. The work is intended to lower the risk of landslips, improve passenger safety and reduce the likelihood of extended closures in the future.

Teams also carried out several additional tasks to improve reliability along the route. These included stress testing sections of continuous welded rail to help minimise heat-related speed restrictions during warmer weather.

Elsewhere, minor track improvements were completed near Thornford following renewal work undertaken in September 2024. Vegetation management was also carried out between Chetnole and Maiden Newton, with workers removing dead, dying and diseased trees that could pose a risk of falling onto the railway and disrupting services.

The scheme forms part of an ongoing programme to maintain and enhance the line for passengers.

“We’re grateful that trains are now running again between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth, and we’d like to thank customers for their patience.

“These improvement works will help support the reliability of services on the Heart of Wessex line, helping more people in the region to travel sustainably.”

Jordan Welsby, GWR’s Station Manager for Westbury, Wiltshire & Dorset.