WEYMOUTH is in for a tourism boost following plans to run direct summer trains from North Dorset and Salisbury.

South West Trains says communities in Dorset as well as Somerset and Wiltshire would all benefit from more services and better connectivity, providing a boost to tourism with direct trains to Weymouth from across the region.

It is through making use of the link between Yeovil Pen Mill, which is on the Weymouth-Bristol line, with Yeovil Junction, on the Waterloo-Exeter line. 

New direct services on summer Saturdays to Dorchester and Weymouth from Sherborne, Gillingham and Salisbury could start this May subject to consultation and regulatory approval.

Consultation is currently taking place with local authorities, communities and rail user groups about the proposals which would be introduced in May 2016 and include:

• New weekday morning service from Yeovil Pen Mill to London Waterloo – departing 5.41am

•Summer Saturday ‘Seaside Specials’ proposal of direct trains to Weymouth and Dorchester from Salisbury, Tisbury, Gillingham, Templecombe, Sherborne and Yeovil

• 8 additional Summer Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday services between Yeovil Junction and Yeovil Pen Mill, facilitating improved East Devon/North Dorset connectivity to Dorchester and Weymouth

• South West Trains to serve Maiden Newton , Thornford, Yetminster and Chetnole for the first on summer Saturdays

The summer trains would run on Saturdays and Bank Holiday Mondays from 21st May through to 3rd September and help to provide a boost for communities, local businesses and tourism throughout the summer months.

These latest proposals build on the improvements introduced in December which provided extra services and direct links between London Waterloo and stations including Yeovil Pen Mill, Castle Cary, Bruton and Frome.

Chris Loder, Head of Service Strategy at South West Trains, said: “Following on from our successful December improvements, these proposals would further support communities and the local economy. By running these additional services in Dorset and Somerset we hope to offer more opportunities to travel to Weymouth and West Dorset by train.

“We’re looking forward to hearing from passengers, businesses, local communities and rail user groups in the coming weeks and we urge anyone with feedback on the plans to get in touch.”

The deadline for responses is Friday 18th March 2016 and responses can be sent by email to WoE@swtrains.co.uk Further details:

The following trains are proposed to operate on Summer Saturdays and Bank Holidays commencing on Saturday 21st May 2016.

• 50am Waterloo to Salisbury extended to Weymouth via Yeovil Junction, calling additionally at Tisbury, Gillingham, Templecombe, Sherborne, Yeovil Junction, Yeovil Pen Mill, Maiden Newton, Dorchester West, Upwey and Weymouth

47 Salisbury to London Waterloo extended to start back from Weymouth (16.56) calling additionally at Dorchester West, Maiden Newton, Yeovil Pen Mill, Yeovil Junction, Sherborne, Templecombe, Gillingham and Tisbury

• Further Summer Saturday services o 1210 Weymouth to Yeovil Junction calling at Upwey, Dorchester West, Maiden Newton, Chetnole (request), Yetminster (request), Thornford (request), Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction

o 1307 Yeovil Junction to Yeovil Pen Mill

o 1328 Yeovil Pen Mill to Yeovil Junction

o 1345 Yeovil Junction to Yeovil Pen Mill

o 1355 Yeovil Pen Mill to Yeovil Junction

o 1405 Yeovil Junction to Weymouth, calling at Yeovil Pen Mill, Thornford (request), Yetminster (request), Chetnole (request), Maiden Newton, Dorchester West, Upwey, Weymouth