Trains get back up to full speed in West

FOLLOWING two months of fewer trains – and reduced speeds – services on the West of England line returned to normal between Salisbury and Exeter St Davids yesterday.

Speed restrictions of 40mph had been in place near Tisbury, Gillingham and Axminster, as the clay-based track bed shrank in the record-breaking hot and dry summer, leaving the rails uneven and too bumpy for trains to run at full speed.

Work by engineers has restored track levels, helped by cooler temperatures and regular rain which has stopped the track bed shrinking, allowing the speed restrictions to be lifted.

To welcome customers back to the full timetable, and to thank them for their patience as the line was repaired, SWR is offering free £5 vouchers to use at most catering establishments along the line, valid until Wednesday November 23.

Opening hours for participating outlets vary, so customers wishing to use their free vouchers are urged to check the further details provided in the explanatory leaflet which will be available to collect with vouchers.

In addition, SWR has also secured 100 free taster minutes to use on Co-bikes’ electric bikes in the Exeter area. E-bikes are currently available to hire at Cranbrook, Pinhoe, Exeter Central and Exeter St Davids stations, as well as Exeter St Thomas.

Claire Mann, managing director of South Western Railway, said: “I am sorry to all those customers whose journeys were affected as we waited for weather conditions to improve to enable Network Rail to safely remove the speed restrictions. ”

In a separate project, SWR customers who use the West of England line are reminded that engineers will return to the area to renew track and improve reliability between Saturday December 10 and Sunday December 18.

During this nine-day period, rail replacement buses will serve Tisbury, Gillingham, Templecombe and Sherborne. Customers are advised to check train times carefully as they may be different to normal, and they may require a change of trains.