South Western Railway services have restarted today (22 November) between Poole and Dorchester South following a week of planned maintenance and improvement works carried out by Network Rail.

The closure allowed engineers to strengthen a section of embankment at Hamworthy and upgrade drainage in the Poole sidings, measures designed to cut the risk of flooding and bolster long-term reliability on this part of the route. Teams also renewed the wheel timbers on the River Frome bridge near Wool, replacing the older blocks with modern FFU alternatives that should extend the bridge’s lifespan and offer passengers a smoother crossing.

Additional work took place at Wool station, where engineers improved the footbridge to enhance accessibility and overall station experience for those travelling through the area. The programme also incorporated several sustainability steps intended to reduce environmental impact.

These included:
• Using a crane powered by Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil for the footbridge lift at Wool
• Installing artificial wheel timbers at the River Frome bridge to avoid sourcing fresh timber
• Carrying out all timber cutting and shaping away from the water to prevent contamination
• Recycling 45 tonnes of old rail and 6 tonnes of fastenings removed during re-railing at Morton
• Using solar panels at site compounds to increase the use of renewable energy

George Murrell, Wessex Renewals Director, speaking for both Network Rail and South Western Railway, said:

“I’d like to thank passengers and the local community for their patience while we carried out these essential upgrade works. The railway passes through a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) so we took all the precautions to ensure that the local wildlife was not impacted as well. This work will improve the resilience of the railway through Dorset and passengers will benefit from smoother and more reliable journeys.”

Image: Network Rail