A SET of hidden rail tracks were unearthed during work to remove the disused lines on Commercial Road along Weymouth harbourside.

The discovery comes amid Dorset Council's project to remove the disused rails along the harbourside in a bid to improve road safety.

Council workers started resurfacing work on Commercial Road this week after track removal was completed on Custom House Quay last Friday.

However, a completely separate set of track rails were hidden under Commercial Road, which were not connected to the visible surface rails.

A spokesman from the council said: "We believe this is the old route of the Weymouth Branch Line, which ‘The Loop’ section replaced.

"The team will move along to the next section of track removal, between St Nicholas Street and St Mary Street, on February 8.

"The rails are being kept on site prior to collection by our recycling contractor, who will store the materials while we finalise paperwork with Network Rail.

"While we expect most will be recycled, some sections of rail may be used for a possible heritage feature along the route once the works are complete."

Following these phases of work, the highways team will be staying in the Weymouth harbour area to remove a section of track on the peninsula near the old Condor building and sections of track in the overgrown area near B&Q in preparation for a potential future project.

There will also be final drainage, kerbing and surfacing works along the harbourside between Lower St Alban Street and St Mary Street.

Further finishing works will be carried out in the areas where sections of the old rails are being left in place, this includes improving the cul-de-sac area of Commercial Road, near King Street, by installing drainage and kerbing, resurfacing the area and marking out formal parking bays and paving repairs in ‘The Loop’ near Cosens Quay Car Park.

Drainage, kerbing and surfacing works on Custom House Quay between St Mary Street and The Pavilion will be carried out between March and May.

The project team are working with conservation officers to develop ideas of how best to preserve historic elements of the Weymouth Branch Line tracks.

Where possible, sections of track are being kept in place to preserve some historic element of the Weymouth Branch Line - with a 30-metre section at the start of the line in Commercial Road and ‘The Loop’ near Cosens Quay Car Park being left in place.

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