Train services between London Waterloo and the West Country have been reduced due to unusually dry soil conditions impacting track safety. South Western Railway (SWR) announced that they have “no alternative” but to run a limited timetable because the lack of moisture in clay soil embankments along the route has caused track instability.
This year has seen England experience its second driest spring on record, with summer rainfall remaining below average across the UK. The dry conditions have affected embankments between Gillingham in Dorset and Axminster in Devon, causing them to shrink and disturb the tracks above. Consequently, speed limits on this 12-mile stretch have been cut from 85 mph to 40 mph for safety reasons.
Effective from August 11 and continuing until further notice, services from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids in Devon will be reduced to one train every two hours, down from one per hour. Journey times on this section will increase by about one hour. Additionally, trains running between London Waterloo and Yeovil Junction, Somerset will continue hourly but with journey times extended by around 25 minutes.
READ MORE: Glastonbury Urged to Act as Speeding Puts Children at Risk
READ MORE: Somerset GP Warns of Risks in Buying Weight Loss Drugs Online
SWR has cautioned that as dry conditions are expected to persist, further speed restrictions may be necessary. Attempts to quickly stabilize the track would only offer a temporary fix since ongoing soil movement is anticipated.
SWR Chief Operating Officer Stuart Meek expressed regret for the disruption, emphasizing the importance of the line to local communities. He stated, “This decision was not taken lightly, but ensuring safe and reliable service requires these changes. We are committed to monitoring conditions closely and minimizing disruption wherever possible. We encourage passengers to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys.”
Network Rail’s Operations Director Tom Desmond affirmed that customer safety is the top priority, which is why these speed restrictions are in place. He added that the timetable changes are based on thorough assessments of ground and track conditions and that they will continue reviewing the situation to restore regular service as soon as it is safe to do so.
The revised timetable will also restore bus replacement services to Crewkerne, Somerset, which had been suspended since July 28 due to embankment erosion. SWR, recently brought back into public ownership, is working closely with Network Rail to manage this challenging situation.