South Western Railway services between Poole and Dorchester South resumed on Saturday 22 November after Network Rail engineers carried out vital maintenance and upgrades to the railway.
During the week-long closure, engineers re-enforced a stretch of railway embankment in Hamworthy, and improved drainage at the Poole sidings to reduce the risk of flooding on the railway and improving long-term reliability.
Engineers renewed the wheel timbers on the River Frome bridge near Wool. These were replaced with modern Fibre-reinforced Foamed Urethane (FFU) alternatives, extending the life of the structure, while also giving passengers a smoother ride over the bridge.
Engineers also completed footbridge improvements at Wool station, making for a better experience for passengers using the station.
To ensure the works were delivered as sustainably as possible, the following adjustments were implemented:
- At Wool, the crane used to lift the footbridge operated on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil fuel.
- During the wheel timber renewal on the River Frome, artificial wheel timbers were used to reduce the need for tree-felling.
- To prevent pollution of the waterway, all adjustments to the wheel timbers – such as cutting and re-shaping – were carried out away from the river.
- For the re-railing work through Morton, 45 tonnes of old rail and 6 tonnes of fastenings will be recycled instead of being sent to a scrapyard.
- Across all site compounds, solar panels were used to increase the use of renewable energy wherever possible.
Speaking on behalf of Network Rail and South Western Railway, George Murrell, Wessex renewals director, said:
“I’d like to thank passengers and the local community for their patience while we carried out these essential upgrade works. The railway passes through a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) so we took all the precautions to ensure that the local wildlife was not impacted as well. This work will improve the resilience of the railway through Dorset and passengers will benefit from smoother and more reliable journeys.”
Further information about the works being carried out can be found at: Bournemouth to Dorchester Line Renewals – Network Rail
Image credit: Network Rail
