Train services between Somerset and Dorset will be affected by rail improvements planned to take place until early December.

Network Rail will be renewing tracks on the Heart of Wessex line until Friday 3 December.

That work will affect Great Western Railway services to Weymouth.

Until Friday 3 December, buses will replace GWR trains between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth. They will run every two hours, with one bus stopping at Dorchester West only, and a second bus stopping at all stations.

GWR Station Manager for Westbury, Wiltshire, and Dorset, James Wilcox, said: “We will continue to keep people moving, but I would encourage those who travel to check beforehand as departure times may be different to normal and journey times extended.

“This work is important to ensure we can continue to provide services between Somerset and Dorset that people can rely on and we thank customers for their patience during this time.

“We are also grateful that Network Rail agreed to move this planned engineering work from earlier in the year to a quieter period to help minimise any disruption to passengers.”

Network Rail’s Wessex route director, Mark Killick, said: “We’re making major improvements to the railway to provide passengers with better, more reliable journeys.

“Sixteen days is a long time to close the railway, but it is the best way to ensure all of our work between Weymouth and Yeovil Pen Mill is completed during one closure, rather than across multiple weekends, while causing the least amount of disruption possible.

“Within those sixteen days, we’re also closing the line from Weymouth to Dorchester South for five days when we’ll be carrying out important work to keep trains on time and reduce delays.

“We recommend that passengers should plan ahead and check the latest journey information as some replacement bus journeys may take significantly longer.”

For the latest information, visit GWR’s website at http://GWR.com/Wessex

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