Swanage to Wareham (Extension of the Swanage Railway)
The Swanage Railway, running from Swanage to Norden is currently going under extensive work to formally re-extend the line to Wareham, (and effectively the mainline). Whilst the track has been used several times to transport trains to the Heritage line, along with specials, no services go from Wareham to the branch or vice versa. To get to the Swanage Railway from Wareham at the moment, bus or taxi are the current modes of transport on offer. (Apart from on the trial running days that are being used to test the line and services).
A £1.47 million grant from the Coastal Communities Fund has paid to upgrade track and bridges and two 1960s heritage diesel trains to mainline running standards so that the service extension can take place.
The Railway itself originally ran from Swanage to the mainline, however passenger services terminated permanently in 1972. The branch was mostly revived into a heritage line for heritage services, and also offers tourists transport to Corfe castle. The heritage line currently runs six miles, and once the extension of services occurs this will change to eleven miles. The reconnection to the mainline also offers the chance to travel completely by rail to the line, similar to the Watercress Line in Hampshire. The area of Dorset is frequented by holidaymakers and campers alike, and I myself went as a child whilst staying in Christchurch, the area surrounding the railway offers a lot, including the seaside, cliffs, fossils, country walks, and small towns and villages each offering different attractions. However up until now access from the mainline has been impossible and if without a car, the only way to travel to the line is through multiple ways of transportation, a mainline connection solves this. I spoke briefly with a local resident who had this to say:
"The line runs from the seaside town of Swanage, to the picturesque Corfe castle, and the fact that this shall now be accessible by mainline shall be great not only for the area itself, but for the people who wish to access this range of scenery and the history behind it"
Jordon Skinner has kindly donated pictures from the first day of public (trial) services, including the picture of the first service to go from Norden over the boundary of the Swanage railway to Wareham since 1972, as well as the brand new level crossing that has been installed.
A £1.47 million grant from the Coastal Communities Fund has paid to upgrade track and bridges and two 1960s heritage diesel trains to mainline running standards so that the service extension can take place.
The Railway itself originally ran from Swanage to the mainline, however passenger services terminated permanently in 1972. The branch was mostly revived into a heritage line for heritage services, and also offers tourists transport to Corfe castle. The heritage line currently runs six miles, and once the extension of services occurs this will change to eleven miles. The reconnection to the mainline also offers the chance to travel completely by rail to the line, similar to the Watercress Line in Hampshire. The area of Dorset is frequented by holidaymakers and campers alike, and I myself went as a child whilst staying in Christchurch, the area surrounding the railway offers a lot, including the seaside, cliffs, fossils, country walks, and small towns and villages each offering different attractions. However up until now access from the mainline has been impossible and if without a car, the only way to travel to the line is through multiple ways of transportation, a mainline connection solves this. I spoke briefly with a local resident who had this to say:
"The line runs from the seaside town of Swanage, to the picturesque Corfe castle, and the fact that this shall now be accessible by mainline shall be great not only for the area itself, but for the people who wish to access this range of scenery and the history behind it"
Jordon Skinner has kindly donated pictures from the first day of public (trial) services, including the picture of the first service to go from Norden over the boundary of the Swanage railway to Wareham since 1972, as well as the brand new level crossing that has been installed.
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| The first public service to cross the Swanage Railway boundary from Norden since 1972. -Courtesy of Jordon Skinner- |
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| Another service prepares to cross the new level crossing and the Swanage Railway Boundary. -Courtesy of Jordon Skinner- Two other services on the line from Spring 2016 below: 1. 'Freight service' at Swanage's Spring Gala. 2. The same service as seen about to cross the Level Crossing. -Both Courtesy of Jordon Skinner-  
^Jacob
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