URGENT BID TO SECURE VITAL £3 MILLION RE-SIGNALLING FUNDING CRITICAL FOR A FUTURE WAREHAM TO SWANAGE TRAIN SERVICE
News Item and Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 24th February 2010
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
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The first London to Swanage steam train enters the Swanage Branch at Worgret Junction on 2nd May 2009. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright
Swanage Railway volunteers are urgently appealing for help in an eleventh hour bid to secure a pledge for £3 million so
re-signalling work can take place - enabling a permanent year-round train service to run from Wareham to Corfe Castle and
Swanage for the first time since 1972.
If a promise of funding is not found by the end of February, the long-held aim of the Swanage Railway - since its inception in
1976 after British Rail closed and lifted the line in 1972 - will be scuppered with the next opportunity not presenting itself for
40 years when the cost will be far greater.
The Swanage Railway contributes some £10 million a year to the Purbeck economy with a permanent train service
between Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage set to increase that local benefit.
And analysis by several independent consultants over recent years has shown that there is public demand for such a train service.
The first Swanage to London train at Worgret Junction on 1st April 2009. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright
The £3 million is needed by the Purbeck Rail Partnership to pay Network Rail in increments during 2011 and
2012 for the re-signalling and other works at Worgret Junction, just over a mile west of Wareham.
The junction is the start of the Network Rail line to Motala, just east of Furzebrook, and the start of the Swanage Railway
tracks to Corfe Castle and Swanage.
Network Rail plans to re-signal the main London to Weymouth line between Poole and Wool during 2012 and if
Worgret Junction is re-signalled at the same time it will cost only £3 million. If the junction is re-signalled at a
later date, could cost up to £10 million.
Mike Whitwam of the Swanage Railway said: "This is a once in a generation opportunity to have Worgret Junction
re-signalled for just £3 million and right the wrong of 1972 so a regular train service can again run between Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage.
Mike Whitwam of the Swanage Railway at Corfe Castle. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright
"We and our partners on the Purbeck Rail Partnership are devoting resources and energy to success, not failure
but we only have until the end of February to secure a pledge for the money which would be paid to Network Rail
in instalments during 2011 and 2012 as it carries out the re-signalling work.
"The Purbeck Rail Partnership and the Swanage Railway are working hard to try and secure the funding pledge -
and have been for almost a year - but it is proving difficult because of the reduction in budgets by central and local
government as a result of the current squeeze on public spending.
"Our eleventh hour appeal is aimed primarily at central government and statutory bodies - perhaps even any
millionaires or National Lottery winners who would like to help give the people of Purbeck back their train
service between Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage," explained Mr Whitwam.
Network Rail requires a commitment from the other members of the Purbeck Rail Partnership, including
Dorset County Council - the transport authority for the county - by the end of February to ensure the
re-signalling of Worgret Junction takes place during 2012.
A special ballast train of 18 Seacow-class ballast hoppers hauled by
DB Schenker Class 66 diesel-electric locomotive No 66031 crosses the viaduct at Corfe Castle.
The special working from the main line at Wareham carried 1000 tonnes of ballast for relaying of track at Herston on 21st January 2010. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright
If the £3 million is not found, the Swanage Railway will continue to accept occasional charter
passenger trains and other special workings - such as visiting locomotives and track maintenance
trains - but they will be in jeopardy when the existing infrastructure at Worgret Junction, dating from
1976, comes to the end of its operating life and needs to be replaced.
The Swanage Railway is not itself contributing to the £3 million required as it continues to invest a
substantial amount - in the region of £500,000 on improving its track and infrastructure to allow
regular trains from Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage in addition to the heritage steam train service
which carries 220,000 people a year between Norden park and ride and Swanage.
That development work includes a new signal box at Corfe Castle station which will interface with the new
Network Rail signalling centre at Bournemouth.
Swanage Railway volunteer Roger Stewart-Hindley pauses from building work and samples a future signalman's view of BR Standard No 80078
passing Corfe Castle station's new 'Victorian' signal box on Sunday 26th July 2009. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright
Formed during the 1990s with the express intention of restoring passenger services between Wareham and
Swanage, the Purbeck Rail Partnership discussion forum is made up of the Swanage Railway,
Dorset County Council, Purbeck District Council, Network Rail, South West Trains and the Borough of Poole.
The Swanage Railway, Network Rail and South West Trains recently gave a joint presentation about the £3 million
re-signalling scheme being the key to unlocking a re-instated permanent train service between Wareham, Corfe Castle and
Swanage to members of Purbeck District Council's policy group.
Members of the Purbeck Rail Partnership met in Wareham on Friday, 19 February 2010 to further consider how to secure the £3 million funding pledge.
Online resources:
More details about Swanage Railway services are available from or
by calling 01929 425800.
Supporters of the initiative have set up the following social networking resources:
A Facebook "fan" page at
A Blog page at
A Twitter Feed a
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