| Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 Posted by bradshaw at 14:21, 22nd July 2025 |     |
Just appeared on SWR’s X site
From Monday 28 July, until further notice, trains will not call at Crewkerne due to temporary speed restriction.
A connecting bus service will run from Yeovil Junction to Axminster calling at Crewkerne.
A connecting bus service will run from Yeovil Junction to Axminster calling at Crewkerne.
More detail from their website
We are experiencing some of the driest conditions for around 200 years, and in the Crewkerne area this has dried out and shrunk the clay soil embankments that support our tracks. This is a problem known as ‘soil moisture deficit’, which Network Rail explains here.
Because track levels have been disturbed, our trains cannot travel safely at their normal speeds, meaning we have to implement a 40mph speed restriction on four miles of track. Unfortunately, track levels cannot be restored to normal until ground conditions improve.
Why can’t trains call at Crewkerne?
If trains continue to call at Crewkerne it will create delays that will quickly spread along the West of England Line, leading to cancellations and large gaps between services.
As a result, we have had to make the difficult decision for trains not to call at Crewkerne.
When will trains call at Crewkerne again?
We will restore train services as soon as we possibly can, but until further notice, trains will not call at Crewkerne.
As hot and dry conditions are set to continue, we are warning customers that additional speed restrictions and further timetable changes are likely to be necessary west of Salisbury over the summer. We are carefully monitoring embankment and track conditions to understand when changes will be needed.
Because track levels have been disturbed, our trains cannot travel safely at their normal speeds, meaning we have to implement a 40mph speed restriction on four miles of track. Unfortunately, track levels cannot be restored to normal until ground conditions improve.
Why can’t trains call at Crewkerne?
If trains continue to call at Crewkerne it will create delays that will quickly spread along the West of England Line, leading to cancellations and large gaps between services.
As a result, we have had to make the difficult decision for trains not to call at Crewkerne.
When will trains call at Crewkerne again?
We will restore train services as soon as we possibly can, but until further notice, trains will not call at Crewkerne.
As hot and dry conditions are set to continue, we are warning customers that additional speed restrictions and further timetable changes are likely to be necessary west of Salisbury over the summer. We are carefully monitoring embankment and track conditions to understand when changes will be needed.
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 Posted by Fourbee at 12:27, 1st August 2025 | |
The good news: from Monday 11th August trains will call at Crewkerne again
The bad news: every 2 hours
Further information about the West of England line changes on the SWR website:
https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/west-of-england-changes
At least it should keep the mileage down on the 159s.
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 Posted by grahame at 12:41, 1st August 2025 | |
The good news: from Monday 11th August trains will call at Crewkerne again
The bad news: every 2 hours
Further information about the West of England line changes on the SWR website:
https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/west-of-england-changes
At least it should keep the mileage down on the 159s.
The bad news: every 2 hours
Further information about the West of England line changes on the SWR website:
https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/west-of-england-changes
At least it should keep the mileage down on the 159s.
Yes, trains between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids will call at Crewkerne from Monday 11 August, once every two hours.
Does that mean alternate trains towards Exeter and towards London - once every 4 hours each way?
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 Posted by bobm at 14:38, 1st August 2025 | |
• One train per hour from London Waterloo to Yeovil Junction - taking approximately 25 minutes longer than usual.
• One train every two hours from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids - reduced from one train per hour, taking approximately one hour longer to Exeter than usual
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 Posted by grahame at 14:46, 1st August 2025 | |
• One train per hour from London Waterloo to Yeovil Junction - taking approximately 25 minutes longer than usual.
• One train every two hours from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids - reduced from one train per hour, taking approximately one hour longer to Exeter than usual
• One train every two hours from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids - reduced from one train per hour, taking approximately one hour longer to Exeter than usual
Thanks for that, Bob - and all the Exeter ones in both directions calling at Crewkerne - so twice every two hours rather than the once every two hours stated? Would have been clearer if they had qualified their answer with "in each direction".
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 Posted by ChrisB at 15:27, 1st August 2025 | |
Sorry Graham - everyone else would read "every 2 hours" as each way....not much use knowing they stop twice every two hours, once in each direction.
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 Posted by grahame at 15:47, 1st August 2025 | |
Sorry Graham - everyone else would read "every 2 hours" as each way....not much use knowing they stop twice every two hours, once in each direction.
Perhaps they don't come from a place where were have an "an hourly service" that's turned out to be in alternate directions. Where we were given "Two trains from Westbury to Swindon" on Sundays from 2006 and without any service the other way. And where we were given "A through train from Melksham to Weymouth on summer weekend Sundays", supposedly for days out, but with no return through train.
We have learned the hard way to ask questions and be very specific as we read the answers to avoid disappointment. But perhaps such things don't happen at Crewkerne now that it's TOC is nationalised?
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 Posted by grahame at 15:54, 1st August 2025 | |
P.S. - down Queensway in Melksham, we have three buses an hour Monday to Saturday, getting people from "The Forest" are to the doctor's surgeries and hospital (example destinations). Good, yes, but to get back they have to take the bus into the Town Centre and then change onto another back to The Forest.
Up Queensway there ARE buses - 3 service on Monday to Saturday evening, and hourly daytime on Sundays (they run both ways).
And you ask why I question "every 2 hours" ??
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 Posted by PhilWakely at 18:26, 1st August 2025 | |
I suspect the timetable will be the same or similar to that implemented during Covid. The idea of an Exeter to Axminster shuttle covering the alternative hours was put to SWR, but they are claiming insufficient rolling stock - that is despite having two or three spare units whilst operating a proper full timetable!
So, yet again, the towns west of Yeovil suffer!
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 Posted by JayMac at 19:11, 1st August 2025 | |
And this isn't the first time we've had a timetable reduction due to dry weather shrinking the ground. Similar issues back in 2022.
https://www.southwesternrailway.com/other/news-and-media/news/2022/september/temporary-reduced-timetable-for-west-of-england-line
Not to worry. Rain forecast for next week. So expect Honiton tunnel to flood.
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 Posted by Timmer at 21:47, 1st August 2025 | |
This is just another in an ever increasing list of problems to hit the Salisbury to Exeter line. It appears to be very fragile in a number of places. How much longer can Network Rail keep throwing money at it to keep it going?
| Re: Trains not calling at Crewkerne from 28 Jul 25 Posted by bradshaw at 22:12, 1st August 2025 | |
It may have spare units but the extended timings, up to 30 minutes to Yeovil and another 30 to Exeter may mean that there are not the paths available, especially if the new timetable has to be resilient.
The times should be available on Monday
