FURTHER moves have been made in connecting a branch line to the main line as a special train was given the green light.

A dream of running trains connecting the Swanage Railway to the main Weymouth-Waterloo line at Wareham once more is nearing reality with plans in place to run a trial passenger service next summer.

Now a special main line train has made history after being the first to run on the Swanage Railway's newly completed three-mile extension towards Wareham.

It has taken 18 months of extensive work to restore and upgrade the former Network Rail line between half a mile east of Furzebrook and a quarter of a mile short of Worgret Junction, on the main line.

Almost 2,000 wooden sleepers have been replaced, half-a-mile of new track laid, a quarter-mile long railway embankment upgraded and six miles of embankments, culverts and ditches cleared and lineside fences upgraded.

The comprehensive restoration, upgrade and improvement work has resulted in train speeds on the new extension being increased to 25mph – with the Project Wareham supporters train being the first to run at the new speed.

Carrying guests, community representatives, Purbeck Community Rail Partnership members – and Swanage Railway's Project Wareham volunteers and staff – the two-carriage South West Trains Class 158 diesel unit made two return trips between Wareham and Swanage.

Guests included the High Sheriff of Dorset, Sir Philip Williams, Swanage Railway Trust patron Sir William McAlpine, council representatives and a member of the Department for Transport.

Swanage Railway Company chairman Trevor Parsons said: "The two trains represented a huge achievement by everyone involved in Project Wareham and our guests were very impressed with the results.

"The restoration and upgrade of our new three-mile extension to within a quarter of a mile of the main London to Weymouth line takes the Swanage Railway a further step towards Wareham.

"The running of the first passenger train on our newly completed extension at 25mph was a great day and very proud one too. It represented a lot of work."Project Wareham shows what can be achieved by working with partners and stakeholders. I would like to thank everyone for their professionalism, commitment and sheer hard work over the past 18 months,"

So passenger trains can again run from Swanage and Corfe Castle to the main line at Wareham – for the first time since 1972 – a £500,000 state of the art level crossing has been installed west of Norden station.

And to enable that safety improvement, a new road-rail interchange – for bringing in locomotives, carriages and other rail-borne items by road – has been built next to the new Norden Gates level crossing.

Swanage Railway Trust chairman Gavin Johns said: "There was great expectation and excitement on the train. Our guests were very impressed with what has been achieved, the quality of the track and the views from the train.

"I would like to say a big thank you for the commitment, professionalism and hard work shown by our Project Wareham volunteers and staff – particularly our track and signalling teams – as well as our contractors," he added.

On behalf of the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership (PCRP), Purbeck Council chief executive Steve Mackenzie said: "We were privileged to be part of this historic occasion and are grateful for the hours of hard work, much of which was voluntary, that made it happen.

“The completion of the three-mile track upgrade, the new Norden level crossing and the increase in line speed are a major step towards a trial passenger service between Swanage and Wareham," he added.

The PCRP is composed of the Purbeck, Dorset and Poole councils, the Swanage Railway, South West Trains, Network Rail and Perenco.