While improving rail services to, from and within Dorset is a key transport priority, for several reasons the former Weymouth Branch Line cannot be brought back into use.
Network Rail* put the line permanently out of use in 2017, recognising that it is no longer safe or practical to run services along the route.
Safety
There is a clear danger of mixing trains with cars, buses, cyclists, and pedestrians. For us, the most important reason why these rails cannot be brought back into use is safety.
Commercial Road provides important access to the town centre and Custom House Quay is a magnet for families and visitors who want to be able to explore the harbour in safety.
Infrastructure
In practical terms, although the railway is called a ‘tramway’ by some, it is not suitable for light rail, which would need new dedicated infrastructure.
The line was only ever intended to serve the ferry terminal – there are no interim platforms between Weymouth Station and the terminal to allow passengers to get on and off the train. There is also no power supply to the rails.
During the short section of removal to date, we have seen that the sleepers – an integral part of the rail infrastructure – are rotted and causing voids beneath the rails and adjacent road.
Only a large multi-million-pound investment would be enough to overhaul the current tracks and make them fit for purpose, very little of the existing infrastructure would be reusable.
Running rail services is always an extremely costly business and with Weymouth Peninsula as the only destination this would never be a financially viable proposition, or recoup initial investment, even if run by volunteers.
Why remove them?
Over the years, we’ve trialled in-filling of the rails with different compounds. These trials had limited effectiveness – showing that a material infill would only last for a short time and would have significant maintenance requirements, causing frequent disruption and being an inefficient use of funds.
Also, infilling does not address the slippery surface of the tracks when wet, which poses difficulties for all road-users.
On Commercial Road and King Street we have also seen evidence of movement of the sleepers due to heavy volumes of traffic. This causes damage to the carriageway where potholes reoccur next to the rails and requires ongoing maintenance, and disruption.
Heritage
Where possible, sections of track are being kept in place to preserve some historic element of the Weymouth Branch Line.
So far, a 30m section at the start of the line in Commercial Road and ‘The Loop’ near Cosens Quay Car Park have been identified to remain in place.
A key part of the project is how to retain the visual impression of the rails in the historic harbourside setting – options are being considered of how best to represent the lines in a visual way along the route.
Engineers are working closely with the conservation team to make sure that we find a solution that does justice to the tracks historic worth.
*article updated on 16/09/21 removing incorrect reference to The Office of Road and Rail
“There is a clear danger of mixing trains with cars, buses, cyclists, and pedestrians. For us, the most important reason why these rails cannot be brought back into use is safety.”
Maybe the author should open his eyes to the rest of the world (including elsewhere in the UK) where trains running on rails (called TRAMS) are mixed with cars, buses, cyclists and pedestrians all day and every day.
Does anyone else find this story completely inconsistent with the Council’s plan to operate a 3×18 ft Diesel Land Train along pretty much the same route , from next year ? It’s baffling as to why one train is considered unsafe , whilst another is being encouraged !
Absolutely agree Jez, I was only thinking the same the other day when seeing some modern trams running in city centres
Hi there,
It’s great to read that [you] are looking to retain the visual aspect of the train lines, which ran through Weymouth’s Commercial Road.
I was, and still am, one of the people who are strongly against the train lines being removed.
However I, for one, am delighted to know that you are looking at ways to keep the visual element.
Please could you consider using locally sourced Portland Stone to create lengths of stone ‘track’ using long brick type cuts of stone? Or perhaps a type of smoothed cobble, using stones from Chesil beach.
I look forward to reading future plans for what is going to happen.
Kind regards
Jon Fells
Could not a railway carriage be put on the Cosens quay loop to serve as a museum to display the story of this unique heritage
Dorset History Centre holds records and images relating to the tram/ rail line and would be very happy to contribute to any interpretation of the area.
Re safety:
How many accidents in the past were due to trains using the branch line to the quayside? Very few I expect, hardly a serious argument for removal, even if there are other more valid arguments.
It is an utter disgrace that this removal is going ahead. Quite apart from the historical value, restoration and perhaps a steam train would have been a major tourist attraction.
What about selling small sections of the lifted track as souvenirs?
I’d buy a small piece!
The line was there to service the Channel Islands ferry terminal. I used to travel on the Boat Train from Waterloo and alight right by the ship. But that was in the 1940s. The situation now is entirely different and the rails are obsolete and dangerous. I would also ague that their contribution to ‘heritage’ is as minimal as all the other dead railways, of which there is no shortage. Dig ’em up!
I quite understand why the line to the ferry was closed but why not re-open the line to Portland particularly now that the former naval dockyard is a commercial port and could generate container traffic, etc?
Not safe for pedestrians, cyclists and cars? It was fine before the nation was infested by morons.
1. Surely any form of *diesel* should not even be considered?
2. Sharing the road with a “Land Train” doesn’t sound very safe.
3. Re-opening a public transport rail to Portland sounds sensible -maybe the new port could share funding +maintenance ?
ban the cars and keep the tracks for light rail into town.
Absolutely criminal taking them up, all that history gone , no remorse nothing , i have emailed the council but no response , they could of been reinstated at minimal cost , no public enquiry took place nothing , i remember them fondly as a child , well you reap what you sow , another waste of tax payers money. wake up and smell the coffee before its to late and all our heritage has gone for good.