Weymouth is set to receive a tourism boost as county rail operators are set to bring back extra trains at weekends during the summer season.

South Western Railway is relaunching direct services on summer Saturdays and Bank Holidays to Dorchester and Weymouth from Sherborne, Gillingham and Salisbury. They are set to start this week following the summer timetable change.

The new timetable, which has been prepared in consultation with local authorities, communities and rail user groups, will run on Saturdays and Bank Holiday Mondays between May 26 and September 8 inclusive.

Chris Loder, head of service strategy for South Western Railway, said: “Our new summer Saturday trains provide an attractive, value-for-money alternative to congested roads and traffic jams.”

“A family of four (from Gillingham and Salisbury) will be able to get to Weymouth and back for as little as £15.

“The station café at Yeovil Junction will also be open, providing refreshments whilst the train stops there.

“We’re very much looking forward to welcoming our first passengers on board.”

Services will be provided using newly-liveried 5-car trains will have more than 300 seats on board for passengers heading to Weymouth which will serve Maiden Newton, Chetnole, Yetminster and Thornford stations for the first time as well as restoring a direct link between Maiden Newton and London.

The new summer special services from South Western Railway include:

* 07:22 Basingstoke to Weymouth via Yeovil Junction via Salisbury Gillingham, Sherborne, Yeovil Junction and Yeovil Pen Mill

* 1210 Weymouth to Yeovil Junction

* 1405 Yeovil Junction to Weymouth

* 16:54 Weymouth to London Waterloo via Yeovil Pen Mill, Yeovil Junction, Sherborne, Gillingham and Salisbury

At the same time, Great Western Railway will also relaunch an additional summer Saturday train running between Bristol Temple Meads and Weymouth.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax said: “I warmly welcome any idea which brings visitors to Weymouth.”

“Seaside specials from the north of the county will give day trippers direct, traffic-free access to the centre of Weymouth.”

Cllr Jeff Cant, leader of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council added that he welcomed the additional investment to enhance rail services in the area.

*We have been asked to point out that the Great Western Railway summer Saturday train will not be provided by a High Speed Train (HST) as stated in the original article. A HST used to provide the service to Weymouth on summer Saturdays.

Instead this year, a six car turbo train will be laid on for passengers.