Purbeck Community Rail Partnership

A significant step towards the service will be the commencement of re-signalling improvements at Worgret Junction (approximately one mile to the west of Wareham Station), and at Wareham Station itself, to enable a regular passenger service through to Corfe Castle and Swanage.  These works will coincide with Network Rail's improvements to the mainline between Poole and Wool, planned for 2012/13.

Dorset County Council has committed to £3 million for the work at Worgret Junction and Wareham, with Purbeck District Council supporting the funding through the Purbeck Transportation Strategy. The aim of the Strategy is to improve movement around the district, taking traffic away from the congested A351 by using alternative forms of transport.  The Strategy is funded by contributions from development.

Enabling a rail link between Swanage and the mainline meets Purbeck District Council's priority to "help all people access services locally".

History

British Railways closed the passenger railway from Wareham to Swanage in January 1972. In 1997, after much local enthusiasm to restore the link, the Purbeck Rail Partnership was formed to support its re-opening. 

Progress

Progress made by the partnership, includes:

• The purchase of trains by Dorset County Council, capable of refurbishment to current mainline standards.

• The completion of track-laying between Furzebrook and the current terminus of the heritage railway at "Motala" near Norden. This has enabled movement of rolling stock between Swanage and the national network, which culminated in the first passenger charter trains since 1972, in 2009.

• The successful installation of signalling and track alterations to enable the bay platform at Swanage to be used, in due course, for Wareham passenger services.

• The underwriting of costs by Dorset County Council for a study as part of the Poole to Wool Re-signalling Scheme, advising on re-signalling to meet passenger standards.

• Completion of a new Swanage Railway signal box at Corfe Castle which is designed to enable Swanage Railway signallers to liaise with their Network Rail counterparts when sending trains between the two networks. 

• The commencement of negotiations between Dorset County Council and Network Rail to lease the track bed from Motala, near Norden, to Worgret Junction.

• The commitment of £3 million by Dorset County Council and Purbeck District Council for re-signalling work at Worgret Junction and Wareham.

The Partnership

The Purbeck Community Rail Partnership is an alliance between Borough of Poole Council; BP; Dorset County Council; Network Rail; Purbeck District Council; South West Trains and the Swanage Railway.