West of England line improvements
We’re investing to improve journeys between Basingstoke and Exeter
We’re investing significant amounts of money to improve journeys for our passengers along the West of England Line. Our work will boost the railways reliability and performance and reduce delays caused by infrastructure failings.
Upcoming 7 day line closure
Our engineers will be working on the line from Saturday 22 to Friday 28 February 2025.
During the closure revised trains and replacement buses will operate between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction. Please visit South Western Railway for latest travel information.
What work is taking place?
Our engineers will be stabilising cuttings by both the Country and London ends of Gillingham Tunnel. During this time, engineers will take advantage of the line being closed to complete a range of work, including:
- Improving drainage in the Gillingham area to reduce the likelihood of flooding on the tracks
- Repairing rail defects and replacing ballast (the stones that support the track) through Sherborne
- General maintenance between Gillingham and Yeovil Junction, including inspecting railway equipment, repairing line side fences, and cutting back any overgrown or diseased trees and hedges that border the railway
Why is the work needed?
Stabilising earthworks surrounding Gillingham Tunnel will reduce the risk of further landslips in the area that affect trains and passengers.
Benefits
Our work will boost the railways reliability and performance, more recent and past closures have included:
November 2024 – Renewing the track at Honiton Tunnel
Between 9 – 22 November 2024 engineers replaced the 50-year-old single track through Honiton Tunnel with a mile of new rail, sleepers and ballast stone.
Drainage was also installed to channel the water away from the tunnel to reduce the likelihood of flooding and engineers stabilised the embankments at the mouth of the tunnel to reduce the risk of landslips. We also completed a range of other important work including:
- Laying half a mile of new track between Pinhoe and Feniton
- Finishing off the stabilisation of the recent Cleave Embankment land slip and cutting back vegetation
- Carefully removing selected dangerous, diseased and dying trees between Honiton and Pinhoe to help keep trains running safely and on time
November/December 2023 we:
- Improved drainage along the track by removing wet beds through Crewkerne level crossing
- Upgraded Axe Gates and Broom level crossings, between Axminster and Crewkerne stations
- Completed routine maintenance of Weycroft River Bridge outside Axminster
- Replaced track from Tisbury to Sherborne
- Cleared dangerous vegetation between Tisbury and Sherborne
- Completed level crossing maintenance between Tisbury and Templecombe
- Installed cabling between Tisbury and Sherborne
In 2022 we:
- Renewed the railway running over Perretts Bridge (by Tisbury station), replacing 1226 yards of track, installing 4500 tonnes of new ballast and 1720 concrete sleepers.
- A £5 million project to strengthen the cutting at Honiton tunnel which saw the installation of both a 35 and 15-yard King Post Wall, as well as improving the drainage from the many natural springs in the area.
- Renewed track at Axminster station.
- Refurbished Sherborne and Feniton level crossings.
- Installed new tactile paving at Gillingham and Sherbourne stations.
Get in touch
For more information or to get in touch with us, please visit our contact us page, follow us on X (formally known as Twitter) or by calling our 24-hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41.