The following letter has been sent to Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Minister of State at the Department for Transport (DfT), regarding recently-announced reduced rail services and planned engineering works that will impact visitors to the Dorset coast this summer.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, writes:
“Dear Mr Heaton-Harris
Reduced Rail Provision in Dorset
We are writing to express our concerns about the much-reduced rail service in Dorset provided by South Western Railway.
Prior to the pandemic we had 2 trains per hour (tph) running between Weymouth and Waterloo, one fast, one stopping. During the pandemic this was reduced to 1 tph plus a shuttle between Weymouth and Bournemouth to allow connection to other services. This has now been reduced to 1 tph between Weymouth & Waterloo.
We are sympathetic to this as a temporary measure whilst the rail industry recovers after what has been a period of turbulence in unprecedented times, we do not consider it to be appropriate or acceptable in the longer term.
This summer we are anticipating higher than average levels of tourism in Dorset as the government promotes and encourages holidaying in the UK this year. We are concerned that the reduced rail service will mean that more tourists will resort to travelling to Dorset by car, something that does not match with the national commitment to reducing traffic in both the Dorset Council area and also the much wider area in order to meet the local and central government’s national climate emergency agenda. Getting cars and trucks off the road is essential to both our objectives, reducing services at a time when we have the opportunity to persuade people there are alternative ways to travel is counter productive. We are happy to work with all forms of public transport to find ways of improving footfall.
We are also extremely perturbed by the effect this could have on our economy by reducing the opportunity for our residents to access employment, education and healthcare provision in the BCP conurbation.
As a local authority we are very supportive of rail services within Dorset by encouraging new residential and employment developments to be sited close to the railway and our active participation in Community Rail Partnerships to increase patronage of the railway. We are also working with Network Rail on their Dorset Strategic Study so as to identify the infrastructure improvements necessary to achieve long held aspirations of a Dorset Metro service (a higher frequency shuttle service across the wider South East Dorset area), amongst other improvements, which would mean additional rail services in the Dorset Council area.
As a matter of urgency, we would ask you to reconsider the current plans and at least give us the level of rail services provided over the past few months as a temporary measure before reinstating the two trains per hour as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Cllr Ray Bryan
Cabinet Member for Highways, Travel and Environment
Cabinet member for Climate and Ecological Emergency
St Leonards and St Ives Ward.”
A copy of the letter was also sent to Chris Loder MP, Richard Drax MP, Michael Tomlinson MP and David Glinos at the Department for Transport. We will publish the response from the Minister as soon as we receive it.
Thank you for copying me in. It endorses my original document sent direct to Weymouth Council councillors and Dorset Council councillors. It’s a very serious matter and one that will be overlooked if pressure is eased.
The other rail operator out of/into Weymouth is, of course, Great Western Railway and the one big issue of discontent here is what appears to be a maximum of just three coaches – packed on incoming services and also over subscribed on trains departing Weymouth in the summer months. An additional two coaches is very necessary, offering passengers a little more comfort – nothing less than they pay for and deserve.
We need a decent rail service in Dorset. Our roads are appalling and buses few and far between.
I will just add that I have attempted to attend the theatre in Dorchester using the train. It is impossible to get there at a convenient time to do so. And it is impossible to get home again afterwards.
If we are not careful, we won’t have a railway left in Dorset.
SWR have no interest west of Poole. Local return journeys don’t work out if wish to return at the wrong time. Many journey opportunities have been lost because the xx03 from Weymouth called at key stations for other services with a short wait.
XC don’t want us in Dorset and Hampshire. UP THE PRESSURE.
“SWR have no interest West of Poole” Well this is partly due to the long standing negative attitude of Local government in Dorset. They have had plenty of money to spend of massive road projects over the years, but would not even spend the modest amount to save the Quay Tramway.
I think SWR are right. Dorset is a lost cause as far as rail travel is concerned. Just provide a basic minimum service and leave it at that. That of course is Dorset Council’s policy in so many policy area for which it is directly responsible.
Andrew – We have responsibility for (most) roads in Dorset, but we do not own the railways. We have also frequently debunked the common misconception that the “Quay Tramway” could have been saved with “modest” investment, as the rails and infrastructure were no longer fit for purpose. However, as the local authority, we feel it’s important to make our feelings known to the Transport Minister about the reduced train service as the implications of this becoming a longer term arrangement may have far-reaching consequences for the residents we serve – James
The hourly service is not working for every day needs, Local return journeys, Connecting with other services.
I had to travel by train recently to Poole. Although I travelled off-peak both ways the train was pretty busy. I also understand that trains don’t join up with more coaches at Bournemouth anymore
I feel for the large number of passengers that have to take this journey daily.
What is SWR thinking of? Obviously not their customers
Shame on them. This should be sorted as a matter of urgency