South Western Railway services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids via Salisbury will run to a reduced timetable from Monday 11th August,
Customers are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time to complete their journeys, with the following timetable changes:
- One train per hour from London Waterloo to Yeovil Junction – taking approximately 25 minutes longer than usual.
- One train every two hours from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids – reduced from one train per hour, taking approximately one hour longer to Exeter than usual
The amended timetable will restore train services to Crewkerne every two hours, which has been served by buses recently.
The temporary timetable is designed to provide customers with a reliable service while trains adhere to speed restrictions, the result of a condition known as soil moisture deficit.
Track that sits above these embankments has been disturbed, so speed restrictions are being imposed for the safety of passing trains. Instead of travelling at a maximum of 85mph, trains will be forced to travel at 40mph.
Most of the route west of Salisbury is made of single track, with only a small number of places for trains travelling in opposite directions to pass each other. With speed restrictions stretching over 12 miles, trains will not be able to pass each other at their allotted times, and it will not be possible to run services to the normal timetable.
Dry conditions are set to continue, so it is possible further speed restrictions will be required. Attempting to stabilise the track now would only provide a short-lived fix, as the soil continues to move.