West of England line improvements
Embankments strengthened and drainage improved during February closure
What work took place?
During a 7-day closure in February 2025, we stabilised embankments at both sides of Gillingham Tunnel.
Our engineers worked on the line from Saturday 22 to Friday 28 February, during the closure revised trains and replacement buses ran between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction.
Over the course of the week, we:
- Improved drainage in the Gillingham area to reduce the likelihood of flooding on the tracks
- Repaired rail defects and replaced ballast (the stones that support the track) through Sherborne
- Carried out general maintenance between Gillingham and Yeovil Junction this included, inspecting railway equipment, repairing line side fences, and cutting back overgrown and diseased trees and hedges that bordered the railway
Why is the work needed?
Stabilising earthworks and improving drainage surrounding Gillingham Tunnel will reduce the risk of flooding and 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
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