A NEW £500,000 level crossing has been officially opened on the Swanage Railway.

The crossing, at Norden Gates, represents another significant step towards reconnecting Swanage with the mainline at Wareham - a longstanding ambition of Swanage Railway volunteers.

The High Sheriff of Dorset Sir Philip Williams cut the ceremonial ribbon at the crossing, which is around half a mile north of Corfe Castle.

Railway volunteers have taken four years and more than 3,000 hours to design, build and test the crossing.

Sir Philip said: "It is a great honour, as well as obviously a great pleasure, to be asked to open this latest stage in the full re-integration of the Swanage Railway into the national railway network.

"I am proud and privileged that this occasion has fallen within my year as high sheriff and that, as a life-long railwayman, I can therefore play a part.

"The official opening of Norden Gates level crossing marks one more decisive stage in the long and tireless efforts of numerous enthusiasts, volunteers and staff who – by their vision and their contribution with time and abilities of brain or muscle – have refused to let the Swanage Railway die."

During Victorian times the family of Sir Phillip were among the promoters behind the 1847 Southampton to Dorchester railway, which had a stop in Wareham. His great-grandfather was a director of the London and South Western Railway until the company's end in 1922.

Sir Phillip, along with his wife and 60 guests, joined a special five-coach train that ran over the level crossing, and onto the four-mile line that takes the Swanage Railway tracks to within a quarter of a mile of Worgret Junction and the Wareham mainline.

Swanage Railway Trust chairman Gavin Johns said: "The safety of the public, and our passengers, is our paramount concern. The new full-barrier level crossing will enable regular passenger trains to run from Swanage and Corfe Castle to the Wareham for the first time since 1972.

"A hugely complex infrastructure project has been successfully completed by a volunteer-led organisation and is about to bring main line-connected rail travel back to a corner of south-east Dorset for the first time in more than 40 years.

"The infrastructure has been completed and is ready for trial services to take place on 140 selected days over two years from the summer of 2017."

The crossing was officially opened on Thursday, October 6.