Swanage Railway is now operating the first diesel multiple unit service via the mainline at Wareham in 51 years as part of the 90-day trial, four-day-a-week heritage train service which will run from the 4th of April through to the 10th of September 2023.

The service will run for eleven miles in total, one mile of which is on Network Rail’s mainline from Worgret Junction allowing the train into Wareham station.

At the end of April, ticketing for the service will also be available to buy via mainline train operator South Western Railway making it easier for passengers to buy add-on tickets enabling them to travel to Corfe Castle and Swanage using mainline tickets.

The services will be operated using a three-carriage heritage Class 117 diesel multiple unit which can have a one-carriage heritage Class 121 diesel multiple unit attached when extra capacity is required creating 292 seats. The units are stabled and serviced at Corfe Castle stations depot in the goods yard. Both units have been restored and upgraded for Swanage Railway by specialist contractors who have put in place the required technical, signalling and safety equipment which is onboard all mainline trains which operate on the national rail network.

Dedicated Swanage Railway volunteer Peter Frost has been involved with the heritage line since 1976 and can remember his 13-year-old self riding on the very last British Rail train from Swanage to Wareham on the 1st of January 1972, travelling in two three-carriage 1957 Eastleigh built ‘Hampshire’ class diesel-electric multiple units. For the first new service, on the 4th of April 2023 Peter fittingly took on the role of train conductor driver for the 10.44am Corfe Castle to Wareham train, returning at 11.19am Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage.

Peter who is aged 65 and has driven steam locomotives on the railway since the 1970s, said: “It was wonderful when the train left the Swanage Railway single line and ran on to the main line at Worgret Junction for the final mile of the journey into Wareham. I certainly felt the hand of history on my shoulder.

“That first passenger train into Wareham was something that several generations of dedicated and determined Swanage Railway volunteers have worked towards since 1972.

“I rode on the last British Rail train from Swanage to Wareham as a 13-year-old on the cold evening of Saturday, 1 January 1972, before witnessing the sad sight of the track being ripped up for scrap during that summer. Most people thought that really was the end.

“After seven miles of track from Swanage through Corfe Castle to Furzebrook had been lifted in just seven weeks, it seemed the branch line would never come back. Rebuilding the Swanage Railway, and returning trains to Wareham, seemed impossible to most people but we had a dream and wanted to try and make it come true,”

Taking on the role of conductor guard for the historic first day was Trevor Parsons chairman of the Swanage Railway Company which runs the heritage trains, Trevor is also a director of the Swanage Railway Trust which supports the volunteer-run heritage line.

The historic first service was waved off in style by the Mayor of Wareham – councillor Malcolm Russell who later welcomed the Mayor of Swanage – Tina Foster who arrived in Wareham at 1pm on the first train from Swanage.

The Wareham service trains are operated and staffed by one of the country’s leading mainline charter and special train operators West Coast Railways on behalf of Swanage Railway. A Swanage Railway conductor driver and conductor guard are required to be onboard the Wareham trains alongside the West Coast Railways driver and guard.

Swanage Railways 90 day trial Wareham service will operate on, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until the 10th of September. First trains will depart Wareham at 11.19am and the last service will depart Swanage at 4.20pm. Visitors using the service will have approximately four hours to enjoy in either Swanage or Corfe Castle.

Swanage Railway special event days will see the timetable subject to change.

To buy tickets for the trial service please visit: http://swanagerailway.co.uk