Heart of Wessex Line facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heart of Wessex Line |
|
|---|---|
Class 37 s at Maiden Newton with a summer Saturday Bristol-Weymouth service in 2009
|
|
| Overview | |
| Status | Operational |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Locale | Wiltshire Dorset South West England |
| Service | |
| Type | Suburban rail, Heavy rail |
| System | National Rail |
| Ridership | 2,119,070 (2017) |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The Heart of Wessex Line, also known as the Bristol to Weymouth Line, is a railway line in England. It connects the city of Bristol to the coastal town of Weymouth. This line is an important route for people traveling between these areas, passing through many towns and villages in Wiltshire and Dorset. Part of the line shares tracks with other railway routes, like the Wessex Main Line and the Reading to Taunton Line.
Contents
Places the Line Serves
The Heart of Wessex Line connects many different places. Here are some of the main cities, towns, and villages you can reach along this route:
- Bristol
- Keynsham
- Bath
- Freshford
- Avoncliff
- Bradford on Avon
- Trowbridge
- Westbury
- Frome
- Bruton
- Castle Cary
- Yeovil
- Thornford
- Yetminster
- Chetnole
- Maiden Newton
- Dorchester
- Upwey
- Weymouth
Who Runs the Trains?
The trains on the Heart of Wessex Line are operated by two main companies:
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
- South Western Railway (SWR)
Most GWR services start from Bristol Temple Meads or Westbury. Some GWR trains even come from places further away, like Gloucester and Cheltenham.
South Western Railway runs a few services between London Waterloo and Yeovil Junction. In the past, there was a special "seaside service" in summer that went all the way to Weymouth, but this was stopped in 2020.
Types of Trains Used
The trains that run on this line are called "rolling stock." They are mostly modern diesel trains.
Current Trains
- Class 165 and Class 166 trains, often called "Networker Turbos," are commonly used. These trains were brought to this line in the late 2010s.
- South Western Railway services mainly use Class 159s and sometimes Class 158 trains.
Past Trains
Before the "Networker Turbo" trains arrived, the line mostly used "Sprinter" diesel trains. These included:
Sometimes, older trains pulled by powerful engines, like the Class 67 with British Railways Mark 2 coaches, were used. This happened especially on busy summer Saturdays between 2008 and 2010 to carry more people to Weymouth.
Community Rail Partnership
In 1998, a group called the Bristol to Weymouth Rail Partnership was formed. This group helps local councils and communities support the railway line. In 2003, it was renamed the Heart of Wessex partnership. This line is now officially recognized as a "community rail" line. This means local people and groups work together to make the railway better for everyone.
