Summer Saturday trains linking Weymouth with the Swanage Railway start up again tomorrow.

It follows a trial last year between South Western Railway (SWR) and Swanage Railway when more than 4,000 tickets were snapped up.

Diesel unit trains will run direct to Corfe Castle, linking up with steam railway services to Swanage throughout the summer until September 7.

The service will help relieve congested roads by enabling visitors to travel to Purbeck by train and visit the beaches and other sights, while also connecting Corfe to the national rail network.

SWR is not running the trains down to Swanage as they would interfere with the Swanage Railway’s heritage service on the single line.

The train starts at London Waterloo and runs to Salisbury, Yeovil and down to Weymouth on the Great Western line before going to Dorchester, Moreton, Wool, Wareham then onto the historic branch line.

The service by SWR is separate to the operation proposed by the Swanage Railway to run train services to Wareham.

David A Rawsthorn, Head of Sales and Marketing for Swanage Railway, said: “We are delighted that the ongoing partnership with South Western Railway will enable a regular train service to run again on summer Saturdays to Corfe Castle. This will give everyone the opportunity of visiting the historic Corfe Castle and join us on board our iconic steam trains to the Victorian seaside town of Swanage.”

Bill Trite, a member of Dorset Council and Chairman of the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership, said: “We look forward to the start of this service, which proved so popular last year.

"The trains brought much additional trade to the Swanage Railway, Corfe Castle and to Swanage itself. Many passengers also bought the add-on “Swanage by steam” fares between Corfe Castle and Swanage and their feedback was very favourable.”

To book tickets or for more information visit a station ticket office or book online at southwesternrailway.com or visit www.swanagerailway.co.uk

Sample fares to Corfe Castle (return per adult) include £5 from Wareham, £10 from Weymouth and £12 from Yeovil.

The train arrives into Weymouth from Yeovil at 10.29am and leaves for Corfe at 10.38am.