Rail passengers in Dorset are being advised to check their journeys and allow extra time later this month, as bus replacement services will operate during a week-long programme of upgrades to the railway.

Between Saturday 15 and Friday 21 November 2025, buses will replace trains on parts of the South Western Railway route while Network Rail teams carry out works designed to boost performance and protect the line from future flooding issues.

Engineers will reinforce a railway embankment in Hamworthy and enhance drainage around the Poole sidings, a key step in ensuring the railway remains resilient and reliable during periods of heavy rainfall. These improvements are intended to support long-term operational stability along the route.

Work will also take place further west at the River Frome bridge near Wool, where the timber supports beneath the tracks will be replaced with modern Fibre-reinforced Foamed Urethane (FFU) beams to prolong the life of the bridge. Alongside this, footbridge upgrades will be completed at Wool station.

The rail replacement arrangements will vary across the seven-day period: buses will run between Bournemouth and Dorchester South on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 November, then operate between Poole and Dorchester South from Monday 17 to Friday 21 November.

Speaking on behalf of Network Rail and South Western Railway, Mark Goodall, Wessex Route Director, said: “We’re sorry for the disruption to passengers while we carry out this work, but it’s essential to keep services running safely and reliably. Our teams will be working around the clock to strengthen key parts of the railway and improve drainage in the area, helping to make the line more resilient in the years ahead.”

Image: Network Rail