No trains for five days as track replaced
New track is being fitted between Maiden Newton and Chetnole
At a glance
For five days buses will replace GWR trains between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth
Engineers will be replacing 760m of old 1950s-style track
Evershot tunnel's brickwork will also be repaired
The work is set to finish on Friday
- Published
Buses will replace Great Western Railway (GWR) trains between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth for five days as new track is fitted.
Network Rail said engineers will be renewing 760m (2,493ft) of old 1950s-style track between Maiden Newton and Chetnole stations near Cattistock.
The track is said to "help prevent speed restrictions and means smoother passenger journeys".
The work will also see repairs to brickwork at Evershot tunnel.
Network Rail said the work over five days would be carried out round the clock
The work starts on Monday and is set to finish on Friday.
Passengers are advised to check ahead before travelling, external.
GWR tickets will also be accepted for travel on South Western Railway (SWR) trains during the closure.
Analysis by Paul Clifton, BBC South Transport Correspondent
This is part of a long-running programme to improve performance on the Heart of Wessex Line.
Network Rail and train operators think it is more efficient to close the route for a whole week than to shut it for several weekends.
And in the next few weeks, there is much more rail disruption to come.
Network Rail will close the line between Salisbury and Axminster for 21 days in November and December
The main line between Portsmouth and London will also be closed between Petersfield and Guildford from 21 to 29 October
The Salisbury-Exeter Rail Users Group (SERUG) accepts the maintenance work to track and earthworks is necessary but it says only 77% of services run on time.
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