GREAT Western Railway will continue to operate services to and from Dorset for at least three more years.

The company, owned by FirstGroup, has been awarded a three year National Rail Contract by the Department for Transport to continue running the ‘Greater Western’ network of routes.

This includes the Weymouth to Bristol line via Dorchester West, Yeovil Pen Mill, Castle Cary and Westbury.

Great Western Railway took over the franchise in 2015 and they say passenger satisfaction has increased from 81% to 91% in the seven years since.

Mark Hopwood, Managing Director at Great Western Railway, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded a National Rail Contract by the Department for Transport, which is a sign of its confidence in GWR as a trusted operator, and means we can continue to build on welcoming more people back to the railway.

“We look forward to working with our rail partners to develop services designed to meet changing customer needs, and putting passengers at the heart of an updated, modern railway.”

National Rail Contracts were brought into force in 2021 to replace the previous system of ‘franchising’ and is intended as a ‘bridge’ to the introduction of railway reforms announced in Grant Shapps’ ‘Plan for Rail’.

Great Western Railway’s NRC will run until at least June 21 2025 with the potential for a further three years at the Secretary of State’s discretion.

A spokesperson for GWR said: “In line with the contract, GWR is committed to attracting people back to the railway by continuing to deliver improvements in customer experience, while focusing investment on sustainable services, and providing better value for money for customers and the taxpayer.”

Wendy Morton, Rail Minister since December, said: “We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Great Western Railway, and excited by its plans to deliver more benefits for local communities.

“During the pandemic, GWR was instrumental in keeping critical services moving and this new contract will see it continue to deliver our ambitious Plan for Rail and provide a fantastic service for passengers."