Normal rail service resumes after embankment work

The hourly service will be back with trains running to time, South Western Railway and Network Rail said

Hourly rail services are being reinstated on the London Waterloo to Exeter St David's service following work to remedy issues caused by dry embankments.

South Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail said the service, which passes through Hampshire, Wiltshire and Somerset will be back to a normal timetable, and journey times, from Saturday.

Trains had been running on a reduced timetable with speed restrictions since August, after dry soil disturbed tracks above the embankments.

Bruce Duncan, Chair of the Salisbury-Exeter Rail User Group, said he is "absolutely delighted" at the return to normal timetabling after a "very challenging few months for students, commuters and leisure travellers."

'Sincerely apologise'

The dry conditions in the summer caused clay embankments between Gillingham in Dorset and Axminster in Devon to shrink, an issue known as "soil moisture deficit", a spokesperson for SWR and Network Rail said.

Due to the single line sections of track between Salisbury and Exeter St Davids, trains were then unable to pass each other in their usual locations, resulting in an amended timetable.

Tom Desmond, Network Rail's Wessex Route Operations Director, said: "We can confirm that we are set to restore the full timetable on the West of England Line on Saturday.

"We are very grateful to our customers for their continued patience and would like to sincerely apologise for the disruption they have experienced since August."

Mr Duncan said moving forward, they will be looking at long term plans to "mitigate the ongoing impacts of climate change".