TRAINS TO WAREHAM ONE STEP CLOSER WITH BP TO PAY FOR A £500,000 LEVEL CROSSING NEAR CORFE CASTLE

News Item from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 6th February 2012
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
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Peter Sills (left) and Mark Woolley (right) of the Swanage Railway at the site of the Norden level crossing.
Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

Regular trains from Swanage to Wareham are one step closer with oil giant BP announcing that it is to pay for the construction and maintenance of a crucial £500,000 level crossing on the award-winning Swanage Railway just north of Corfe Castle.

Swanage Railway supporters have been campaigning to re-instate a regular train service between Swanage and Wareham after the last British Rail train controversially ran between the two Purbeck towns on New Year's Day 1972.

Peter Sills (left) and Mark Woolley (right) of the Swanage Railway at the site of the Norden level crossing.
Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

The full-barrier level crossing with lights on the access road to the Swanage Railway's Norden Park & Ride station and the Wytch Farm oil field is required before regular trains can run between Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage.

The level crossing funding announcement was made by BP's North Sea regional president Trevor Garlick at a special Wytch Farm history celebration evening in Furzebrook village hall.

SR 4-6-2 "Battle of Britain" Class No. 34067 Tangmere travelling light engine to Eastleigh for turning in May 2009 after bring the first steam train from London to Swanage since June 1967 seen crossing the access road to the Swanage Railway's Norden Park & Ride station via the exisiting Norden road crossing.
Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

The £500,000 'legacy' donation comes after BP sold its majority shareholding in, and operation of, the Wytch Farm oilfield north of Corfe Castle - the largest on-shore oilfield in western Europe - to Anglo-French oil company Perenco during December, 2011.

SR 4-6-2 "West Country" Class no. 34028 Eddystone crosses the access road to the Swanage Railway's Norden Park & Ride station via the exisiting Norden road crossing.
Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

The Swanage Railway Company's volunteer chairman Peter Sills, from Wareham, said: "This is a very kind and generous legacy act by BP which means that regular trains are one step closer to running between Swanage, Corfe Castle and Wareham for the first time since January, 1972.

"One of several line improvements required before regular trains can run from Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage, the £500,000 Norden level crossing is due to be built by contractors on behalf of - and in liaison with - the Swanage Railway's signalling department with completion due in May, 2013.

Peter Sills and Mark Woolley of the Swanage Railway at the site of the Norden level crossing.
Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

The Swanage Railway's volunteer Project Wareham director Mark Woolley, from Swanage, explained: "The other improvements needed before regular trains can run to Wareham are the re-signalling of Worgret Junction on the main line near Wareham - due to be completed by Network Rail by May, 2013 - and the upgrade of the three-mile Network Rail single line between Worgret Junction and the Swanage Railway at Motala near Furzebrook."

The site of the Norden level crossing.
Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

During the recent Wytch Farm history celebration evening, BP North Sea regional president Trevor Garlick said: "BP is delighted to be able to announce our agreement with the Dorset County Council, Perenco, and the Wytch Farm partners to fund the Norden level crossing - a critical milestone in realising plans to reopen the railway line between Wareham and Swanage.

"We hope this goes some way to improving transport links and reducing traffic congestion for the people in the Purbecks and for visitors long term. Wytch Farm is a special part of BP's history and we are pleased to be able to leave this lasting contribution."

Peter Sills and Mark Woolley of the Swanage Railway at the site of the Norden level crossing.
Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

Currently, only maintenance trains and occasional charter trains from other parts of the country to Corfe Castle and Swanage via Wareham use the three-mile Network Rail single line between Worgret Junction and Motala.

Thanks to the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership discussion forum, Dorset and Purbeck councils have pledged up to £3 million for Network Rail to re-signal Worgret Junction so regular trains can run from Wareham to Swanage.

The site of the Norden level crossing.
Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

The Worgret Junction re-signalling will be paid for from a transport development fund which property developers in the Purbeck area pay into - the money being collected by Purbeck District Council and spent by Dorset County Council as the transport authority for Purbeck.

The site of the Norden level crossing.
Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

Working to re-establish a regular train service from Swanage to Wareham, the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership is composed of the Swanage Railway, Dorset County Council, Purbeck District Council, Network Rail, South West Trains, Perenco and the Borough of Poole.

The site of the Norden level crossing.
Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

Mr Garlick made his announcement on Thursday, 19 January, 2012.

The site of the Norden level crossing.
Photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

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