Swanage puts back Wareham DMU operation to 2023
Various factors cited for decision to push back through DMU services originally planned for 2022.
“CHALLENGING trading conditions and economic uncertainty” are two reasons cited by the Swanage Railway for its decision to postpone its planned trial of DMU operated through services between Swanage/Corfe Castle and Wareham until 2023. The line had hoped to begin running its through trains over Network Rail tracks on 90 days this year, but says its business is still recovering from Covid, which has badly affected customer and staff confidence.
A further reason for the delay is that of the completion of the Swanage Railway’s train operating licence application to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). It says: “The extensive work required to put in an application to the Office for Road and Rail (ORR) for
operating trains to Wareham has been very detailed and has taken longer than expected – it has probably been the most challenging project in the 45-year history of the Swanage Railway.”
Four DMU vehicles were overhauled to main line standards at Eastleigh Works
between 2015 and 2020, which included the fitting of OTMR equipment and Central Door Locking. Their overhaul was financed by a government grant from the Coastal Communities Fund. To date, they have yet to venture onto Network Rail metals under their own power.