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Heart of Wessex Line
Overview
TypeSuburban rail, Heavy rail
SystemNational Rail
StatusOperational
LocaleWiltshire
Dorset
South West England
Operation
OwnerNetwork Rail
Technical
Track gauge{{#switch:sg
|3mm=3 mm (0.118 in)
|4mm=4 mm (0.157 in)
|4.5mm=4.5 mm (0.177 in)
|4.8mm=4.8 mm (0.189 in)
|6.5mm=6.5 mm (0.256 in)
|6.53mm=6.53 mm (0.257 in)
|8mm=8 mm (0.315 in)
|8.97mm=8.97 mm (0.353 in)
|9mm=9 mm (0.354 in)
|9.42mm=9.42 mm (0.371 in)
|10.5mm=10.5 mm (0.413 in)
|11.94mm=11.94 mm (0.470 in)
|12mm=12 mm (0.472 in)
|12.7mm=12.7 mm (0.5 in)
|13mm=13 mm (0.512 in)
|13.5mm=13.5 mm (0.531 in)
|14mm=14 mm (0.551 in)
|14.125mm=14.125 mm (0.556 in)
|14.2mm=14.2 mm (0.559 in)
|14.28mm=14.28 mm (0.562 in)
|14.3mm=14.3 mm (0.563 in)
|15.76mm=15.76 mm (0.620 in)

Template:Heart of Wessex Line diagram The Heart of Wessex Line, also known as the Bristol to Weymouth line, is a United Kingdom railway line that runs from Bristol to Westbury to Weymouth. It diverges from the Wessex Main Line at Westbury, and follows the course of the Reading to Taunton line as far as Castle Cary.

Places served[]

The cities, towns and villages served by this route are listed below:

  • Bristol
  • Keynsham
  • Bath
  • Freshford
  • Avoncliff
  • Bradford on Avon
  • Trowbridge
  • Westbury
  • Frome
  • Bruton
  • Castle Cary
  • Yeovil
  • Thornford
  • Yetminster
  • Chetnole
  • Maiden Newton
  • Dorchester
  • Upwey
  • Weymouth

Operator[]

Passenger services are currently operated by First Great Western. Most services originate from Bristol Temple Meads, or from Westbury. However, some services originate from towns and cities beyond Bristol such as Gloucester, Cheltenham and Great Malvern.

Rolling stock[]

Services are provided on Sprinter diesel multiple unit trains built during the late 1980s and 1990s, typically of 2 or 3 coach Class 150, with some Class 158 trains. During the summers of 2008 - 2010 an additional southbound morning and northbound evening train were added to the Saturday timetable to cope with demand between the cities and the seaside resort of Weymouth. This consists of five British Railways Mark 2 coaches hauled by a modern Class 67 (or, on special occasions, 1960s Class 37) diesel locomotive.[1] Outside of, amongst others, the InterCity 125 trains, this is one of the few remaining diesel locomotive hauled regular scheduled services left in Britain.

History[]

Main article: Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway

References[]


Bibliography[]

  • R.V.J.Butt, (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Patrick Stephens Ltd.  ISBN 1-85260-508-1
  • Robert Adley, (1988). Covering My Tracks. Patrick Stephens Ltd.  ISBN 0-85059-882-6
  • J.H. Lucking ,. Railways of Dorset. Railway Correspondence and Travel Society 1968.  ISBN(no ISBN)

External links[]


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