THE case for making rail improvements in Dorset was put forward by West Dorset MP Chris Loder.

As chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on South Western Railway, he hosted SWR Managing Director Claire Mann and Network Rail’s Route Director for Wessex Mark Killick for an 'open dialogue about the future after the pandemic and the improvements that need making'.

It comes amid concerns about a reduced service on the Weymouth-Waterloo line and also cuts on the Weymouth to Bristol 'Heart of Wessex route.

Mr Loder, a former railway manager, also has concerns about the state of Dorchester South station.

He said: "I will be relentless in making sure we get Dorchester South Station sorted as well as the Heart of Wessex line train service."