Network Rail has issued a reminder that later this month, the Heart of Wessex between Castle Cary and Weymouth is to close for one week because of track replacement work at Thornford in Dorset.

From Monday, 23rd September to Sunday, 29th September, there will be no trains between Castle Cary and Weymouth with a rail-replacement bus service running instead.

While the line is closed, Network Rail engineers will replace nearly one mile of track just north of Thornford.

Passengers will benefit from smoother and more reliable journeys once this work is completed make improvements to the junctions on either side of Maiden Newton station, where the two tracks merge into a single line.

Alternative travel arrangements

• Express bus services will run between Weymouth and Castle Cary only calling at Yeovil Pen Mill and Dorchester West
• Stopping buses will call at all stations.
• Passengers travelling between Weymouth and Dorchester can use South Western Railway services to Dorchester South, with Great Western tickets accepted where appropriate.

Sunday, 22nd September

• There will be no trains between Dorchester West and Weymouth because of engineering work.
• A non-stop rail-replacement bus service will run between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth.
• Passengers travelling between Thornford, Yetminster, Chetnole and Maiden Newton should use the rail-replacement bus service between Dorchester South and Weymouth; that will also call at Upwey.
• It is approximately half a mile between Dorchester South and Dorchester West, and unfortunately, there will be no bus connection between the two stations to connect with the Great Western Railway services.

Last March, further disruption took place on the Heart of Wessex Line between Dorchester and Weymouth for track renewal work, and in October 2023 over 1,800 metres of track through Thornford station was renewed.

“The track we are replacing is over fifty years old and worn out, making it more prone to defects and faults. This essential engineering work will improve the railway between Weymouth and Castle Cary, allowing passengers to enjoy smoother and more reliable journeys.
“Longer single closures such as this one allows us to best manage our resources and complete a greater amount of work compared to working over multiple weekends, which is also more disruptive to passengers.
“We’re sorry to any passengers whose journeys are disrupted and thank them for their patience and understanding during this time.”

Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex route director

“This improvement work forms part of an ongoing programme of maintenance, helping to ensure we can continue to provide consistent and reliable services. GWR will provide rail replacement services between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth on Sunday 22 September, then between Castle Cary and Weymouth until Sunday 29 September. As an alternative, customers can also travel between Westbury and Weymouth using SWR services via Southampton Central from Monday 23 to Friday 27 September. However, please note that buses replace all trains via Southampton Central on the weekend of 28/29 September so this alternative would not be an option. It’s important customers understand these alternative arrangements will make their normal journey times much longer, so do please check before you travel.”

Jordan Welsby, GWR Station Manager for Westbury, Wiltshire and Dorset