South Western Railway services are back up and running between Poole and Dorchester South following a week-long closure that allowed Network Rail engineers to deliver essential maintenance and resilience upgrades.
The works focused on strengthening infrastructure and improving sustainability across key locations on the route. At Hamworthy, engineers reinforced a section of railway embankment, while drainage improvements at Poole sidings were carried out to reduce flood risk and enhance long-term reliability.
One of the most significant upgrades took place on the River Frome bridge near Wool, where engineers renewed the wheel timbers—the long blocks that support the tracks. These were replaced with modern Fibre-reinforced Foamed Urethane (FFU) alternatives, extending the life of the structure and providing passengers with a smoother ride.
Passengers at Wool station will also notice improvements to the footbridge, which has been upgraded to deliver a better experience for those using the station.
Commitment to Sustainability
Network Rail ensured the works were as environmentally responsible as possible, introducing several measures to reduce impact:
- At Wool, the crane used to lift the footbridge ran on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil fuel.
- Artificial wheel timbers were used on the River Frome bridge, reducing the need for tree-felling.
- All cutting and shaping of wheel timbers was carried out away from the river to prevent waterway contamination.
- During re-railing through Morton, 45 tonnes of old rail and 6 tonnes of fastenings will be recycled rather than sent to scrap.
- Solar panels were installed at site compounds to increase renewable energy use.
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.”
Image and video credits: Network Rail
