A Dorset rail line is to close for 16 days - while another route will also be subject to work for part of the same period.

Commuters are being warned of major disruption ahead of engineering work on sections of the Bristol and Waterloo lines.

The work which will close the Bristol line, between Weymouth and Yeovil Pen Mill, starts this Thursday, November 18, and carries on until December 4.

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Buses will replace Great Western Railway (GWR) trains on the ‘Heart of Wessex’ line, which connects Weymouth with Bristol, throughout the duration of the work.

Over the course of the works engineers will work across 30 different jobs with the main focus between Maiden Newton and Yetminster where more than four miles of track will be replaced.

While five days of maintenance is planned between Weymouth, Dorchester South and Wool. Buses will be replacing trains on Monday, November 22, between Weymouth and Wool and then from Weymouth to Dorchester South from Tuesday, November 23 until Friday November 26.

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“We’re making major improvements to the railway between Weymouth, Yeovil Pen Mill and Wool to provide our passengers with better, more reliable journeys,” said Mark Killick, Network Rail’s Wessex route director.

“Sixteen days is a long time to close the railway, but it is the best way to ensure all of our work between Weymouth and Yeovil Pen Mill is completed during one closure, rather than across multiple weekends, while causing the least amountof disruption possible.

“Within those sixteen days, we’re also closing the line from Weymouth to Dorchester South for five days when we’ll be carrying out important work to keep trains on time and reduce delays.”

The five days of maintenance between Weymouth, Dorchester South and Wool will take place to prevent speed restrictions being imposed and keep trains on time through Upwey. During the closure Weymouth and Upwey stations will be receiving a lick of paint, having improved pavement installed and cleaned.

Dorset Echo: Weymouth Train Station

Great Western Railway (GWR) station manager for Westbury, Wiltshire and Dorset James Wilcox, said: “We will continue to keep people moving, but I would encourage those who travel to check beforehand as departure times may be different to normal and journey times extended.

“This work is important to ensure we can continue to provide services between Somerset and Dorset that people can rely on and we thank customers for their patience during this time.”

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Passengers are warned to plan their journeys.