South Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail have successfully reinstated the full West of England timetable following the removal of speed restrictions between Gillingham in Dorset and Axminster in Devon.
The restrictions were introduced earlier this year after the UK experienced its driest spring and hottest summer on record. These extreme weather conditions caused clay embankments between Salisbury and Exeter to dry out, disturbing track levels—a phenomenon known as soil moisture deficit.
“As the ground below the tracks continued to move, engineers could not complete repairs and speed restrictions were introduced for the safety of passing trains,” explained a Network Rail spokesperson.
The situation has now improved thanks to cooler temperatures and autumn rainfall, which have rehydrated and stabilised the embankments. Engineers have carried out extensive tamping work to restore track levels, enabling the removal of speed restrictions and the return of normal service.
“With track levels back to normal the speed restrictions have been removed, and the normal timetable has been restored,” confirmed SWR.
Image and video credits: Network Rail
