Crewkerne Station – Amended Timetable from Monday 28th July 2025 until further notice

West of England – Amended Timetable – Effective from Monday 28 July — Until Further Notice

South Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail regret to inform customers that trains will not call at Crewkerne station until further notice and a revised timetable will be in place on the West of England Line due to Soil Moisture Deficit caused by exceptionally dry weather conditions across the South West.

Background and Cause:

Having experienced the driest spring since 1836, followed by the driest summer in 200 years, the region is suffering from a severe soil moisture deficit. Most railway embankments in southern England are built on clay soil, which normally contains moisture. However, heat radiation and moisture absorption by lineside vegetation and trees have removed much of this moisture.

This has caused the clay soil to shrink, disturbing the track levels above it. It is currently impossible to restore the correct track levels while the soil remains dry. For safety reasons, a 40mph speed restriction will be imposed in the Crewkerne area. from the 28th July.

Impact on Services:

The speed restriction results in delays of up to six minutes per train. Due to the single line sections between Salisbury and Exeter St David’s, these delays quickly compound, leading to cancellations and long gaps between services, which would cause significant disruption without timetable adjustments.

To minimise disruption, SWR and Network Rail have decided to remove stops at Crewkerne and provide a rail replacement bus service between Yeovil Junction and Axminster. This bus service will link with train arrivals at both stations and take approximately 30 minutes each way to and from Crewkerne.