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Swanage railway reconnection scheme set to go ahead

3:00pm Friday 30th July 2010 in


AFTER decades in the sidings it looks like full steam ahead for the £3m Swanage Railway reconnection project.

Purbeck District Council agreed yesterday to officially support the scheme to reconnect with the mainline – almost certainly guaranteeing Swanage reclaims its place on the national rail map. It follows a decision by Dorset County Council last week to also back the project.

Network Rail needed an assurance by today that the £3million would be available when planned Poole to Wool re-signalling work starts in 2012.

Now county transport bosses will be in a position to give that assurance.

District council housing and social issues spokesman Cllr Beryl Ezzard said: “The proposal helps to underpin one of the targets set out under the council’s priority of ‘Helping all people access services locally’.

“It has been a long journey to get to this point, but we can now progress to once again linking the district by rail, which will have enormous benefits for residents, commuters and visitors, and relieve congestion in the district.”

Campaigners, councillors and Purbeck business leaders have pushed for the reconnection since British Rail closed the Purbeck branch line in 1972.

The county council will now confirm to Network Rail that the reconnection will be included in the Purbeck Transportation Strategy, a blueprint for transport around the district.

Local transport chiefs say the money will come from an existing fund, paid into by developers building within county boundaries.

The £3million costs could be split across three years, therefore lessening the impact on financially-stretched local authorities.

Comments(10)

Glashen says...
3:22pm Fri 30 Jul 10

Congratulations to Swanage Railway. I remember travelling on the line before BR closed it. The decision to close it and tear up the tracks seemed wrong in the 1970s and it is good to see that the line will now be returning to the national network.

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Jonas131415 says...
3:53pm Fri 30 Jul 10

Good news! I travelled this line until closure and witnessed the underhand tactics of those determined to close it. Spent hours on Wareham station because trains were timetabled to depart for Swanage just before connecting trains arrived! I'm sure a regular, reliable service will be very popular and financially successful.

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boracay says...
6:16pm Fri 30 Jul 10

Wonderfull news very good to see our council makeing good financial choices. Within 2 years i wont need to totaly rely on Wiltshire & Dorset Bus 50 and Bus 40. At least now later their will be an alternative for getting to Gatwick Airport instead of Hireing Road transpost to get their!!

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EGHH says...
6:33pm Fri 30 Jul 10

Very pleased at this news. Even though I am confirmed "petrol-head" and love driving, I love the attraction of rail travel on this scale. At least Swanage trains are on time!

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Upkeep says...
11:49pm Fri 30 Jul 10

A common sense decision. Well done Swanage Railway and a pat on the back to Purbeck District Council.

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upontown says...
3:38am Sat 31 Jul 10

Brilliant news! This'll put Swanage and the Purbeck area well and truly back on the Map and will bring much needed money to the local economy.

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CoogarUK.com says...
4:46am Sat 31 Jul 10

Great news! When can I buy my ticket?

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wayneofafcb says...
7:59am Sat 31 Jul 10

Well done, a great piece of news. Many many people will welcome this decision, and use the railway.The Weymouth to Yeovil line is always busy, and it shows how short sighted the line closures of the 60s were, especially in a county like Dorset.

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alex2010 says...
12:11pm Sat 31 Jul 10

I am absolutely thrilled the Swanage Railway will and shall be reconnected with the mainline once again. My question will be when maybe by next saturday?. Good Luck the Swanage Railway with your reconnection with the mainline again. Thank You.
Kind Regards Mr Lee Luckham.

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Purbeckboy says...
7:43pm Thu 5 Aug 10

The £3M is for Signalling of Worgret Junction only. Much more is required to upgrade line, to provide suitable rolling stock etc. So for those of you who wish to buy a ticket, consider a donation.

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AFTER decades in the sidings it looks like full steam ahead for the £3m Swanage Railway reconnection project. AFTER decades in the sidings it looks like full steam ahead for the £3m Swanage Railway reconnection project.

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