West of England Main Line
Encyclopedia
The West of England Main Line is a British railway line that runs from , Hampshire
to Exeter St Davids
in Devon
, England. Passenger services run between London Waterloo station and Exeter. Despite its historic title, this is not today's principal route from London to the West of England: Exeter and beyond are reached more quickly by the Great Western Main Line
from London Paddington.
, this section of the network consisted of the various sections and stations listed below.
The line was significantly downgraded by being singled for long sections west of Salisbury by British Rail
. This restricts the number of trains that can serve stations on this section of the line, passing loops have been added to alleviate this problem.
. Stations between Honiton and Exeter (Feniton, Whimple and Pinhoe) are limited service stations.
using Class 159
and Class 158
trains. Currently trains generally run half-hourly from London to Salisbury, and hourly to Exeter. The Network Rail South West Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy (March 2006) recommended building an extended section of double track from Chard Junction to Axminster
, plus a passing loop at Whimple
. However, Network Rail's Route Plan, is silent on the Whimple loop. As built, the Axminster Loop is centred on Axminster station, and does not extend to Chard Junction as originally proposed.
An hourly service now runs between Exeter and London Waterloo (almost clockface except for a few early morning services) as published in the timetable starting 12 December 2010. The stations between Exeter Central and Honiton (Pinhoe, Whimple and Feniton) retain a two-hourly service, but with services alternating between calling at Pinhoe, and Whimple and Feniton with few services calling at all three stations. South West Trains no longer runs beyond Exeter from December 2009.
The line is not electrified
(except for the SWML
portion).
The typical off-peak services are:
Between London Waterloo and Basingstoke, trains for the West of England Main Line call at Clapham Junction
and Woking
.
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
to Exeter St Davids
Exeter St Davids railway station
Exeter St Davids station is the most important of seven National Rail stations in the city of Exeter in southwest England. Today the station is owned by Network Rail and operated by First Great Western.-History:...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England. Passenger services run between London Waterloo station and Exeter. Despite its historic title, this is not today's principal route from London to the West of England: Exeter and beyond are reached more quickly by the Great Western Main Line
Great Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
from London Paddington.
History
When all routes had been incorporated into the London and South Western RailwayLondon and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
, this section of the network consisted of the various sections and stations listed below.
- Basingstoke to Salisbury
- Basingstoke to AndoverAndover, HampshireAndover is a town in the English county of Hampshire. The town is on the River Anton some 18.5 miles west of the town of Basingstoke, 18.5 miles north-west of the city of Winchester and 25 miles north of the city of Southampton...
opened 3 July 1854 - Andover to SalisburySalisburySalisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
opened 1 May 1857
- Basingstoke to Andover
- Intermediate branches were built to serve the following places between Basingstoke and Salisbury.
- Basingstoke and Alton Light RailwayBasingstoke and Alton Light RailwayThe Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway was a railway in Hampshire, UK, opened on Saturday, 1 June 1901, with no formal ceremony.It was the first railway to be enabled by an Order of the Light Railway Commission under the Light Railways Act of 1896...
opened June 1901, closed all traffic 30 May 1936 - Two branches, from Hurstbourne and AndoverAndover, HampshireAndover is a town in the English county of Hampshire. The town is on the River Anton some 18.5 miles west of the town of Basingstoke, 18.5 miles north-west of the city of Winchester and 25 miles north of the city of Southampton...
to RomseyRomseyRomsey is a small market town in the county of Hampshire, England.It is 8 miles northwest of Southampton and 11 miles southwest of Winchester, neighbouring the village of North Baddesley...
and onto Eastleigh and Southampton: both closed. Link via LongparishLongparishLongparish is a small village in Hampshire, England. It lies on the western bank of the River Test.A Victorian monument, Dead Man's Plack, stands nearby.-External links:* * *...
opened 1 June 1885; closed all traffic 6 July 1931. - At Andover was the junction with the Midland and South Western Junction RailwayMidland and South Western Junction RailwayThe Midland and South Western Junction Railway was, until the 1923 Grouping, an independent railway built to form a north-south link between the Midland and London and South Western Railways allowing the Midland and other companies' trains to reach the port of Southampton.-Formation:The M&SWJR...
to CheltenhamCheltenhamCheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held... - The Bulford Camp branchAmesbury and Military Camp Light RailwayThe Amesbury and Military Camp Light Railway was constructed under a light railway order dated 24 Sept 1898. It was opened for military traffic from Amesbury to the Newton Tony Junction on the 1st Oct 1901...
- Salisbury to Romsey, with a branch from this line to BournemouthBournemouthBournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
- In Salisbury, the Great Western RailwayGreat Western RailwayThe Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
(GWR) line from WestburyWestbury, WiltshireWestbury is a town and civil parish in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Westbury White Horse.-Name:The most likely origin of the West- in Westbury is simply that the town is near the western edge of the county of Wiltshire, the bounds of which have been much the same...
and BristolBristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
had its own terminus: the L&SWR continued the route southeastwards towards Southampton. This route today is the Wessex Main LineWessex Main LineThe Wessex Main Line is the railway line from Bristol Temple Meads to Southampton. Diverging from this route is the Heart of Wessex Line from Westbury to Weymouth.- Places served :The places served are listed below.*Bristol*Keynsham*Oldfield Park*Bath...
route.
- Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway
- Between Salisbury and Exeter on the main line; the sections were opened as follows:
- Salisbury — YeovilYeovilYeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
opened 2 May 1859 - Yeovil — ExeterExeterExeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
opened 19 July 1860
- Salisbury — Yeovil
- Intermediate branches were built to serve the following places between Salisbury and Exeter.
- branch to YeovilYeovilYeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
Town joint station with the GWR - branch to ChardChard, SomersetChard is a town and civil parish in the Somerset county of England. It lies on the A30 road near the Devon border, south west of Yeovil. The parish has a population of approximately 12,000 and, at an elevation of , it is the southernmost and highest town in Somerset...
joint station with the GWR - branch to Lyme RegisLyme RegisLyme Regis is a coastal town in West Dorset, England, situated 25 miles west of Dorchester and east of Exeter. The town lies in Lyme Bay, on the English Channel coast at the Dorset-Devon border...
from AxminsterAxminsterAxminster is a market town and civil parish on the eastern border of Devon in England. The town is built on a hill overlooking the River Axe which heads towards the English Channel at Axmouth, and is in the East Devon local government district. It has a population of 5,626. The market is still... - branch to Seaton from Seaton Junction (closed)
- branch to SidmouthSidmouthSidmouth is a small town on the English Channel coast in Devon, South West England. The town lies at the mouth of the River Sid in the East Devon district, south east of Exeter. It has a population of about 15,000, of whom 40% are over 65....
from Sidmouth Junction (also alternative route to ExmouthExmouth, DevonExmouth is a port town, civil parish and seaside resort in East Devon, England, sited on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe. In 2001, it had a population of 32,972.-History:...
) - branch to Exmouth from Exmouth Junction near Exeter
- branch to Yeovil
The line was significantly downgraded by being singled for long sections west of Salisbury by British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
. This restricts the number of trains that can serve stations on this section of the line, passing loops have been added to alleviate this problem.
Route
The main towns served by the route are listed below. The line between London and Basingstoke is part of the South Western Main LineSouth Western Main Line
The South Western Main Line is a railway line between London Waterloo and Weymouth on the Dorset coast, in the south of England. It is a major railway which serves many important commuter areas, as well as the major settlements of Southampton and Bournemouth...
. Stations between Honiton and Exeter (Feniton, Whimple and Pinhoe) are limited service stations.
- London WaterlooWaterloo stationWaterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1....
- Clapham Junction
- WokingWoking railway stationWoking railway station is a railway station in England, serving the town of Woking, Surrey. It is a major stop on the South Western Main Line and is used by many commuters...
- BasingstokeBasingstoke railway stationBasingstoke railway station, in the town of Basingstoke in the county of Hampshire in England, is on the South Western Main Line from London Waterloo, with local and fast services operated by South West Trains. It is also the terminus of First Great Western local services on the Reading to...
- OvertonOverton railway stationOverton railway station serves the village of Overton in Hampshire, England. It is located in the adjacent village of Quidhampton. The station is served and operated by South West Trains.-Typical hourly off-peak service pattern:...
- WhitchurchWhitchurch (Hampshire) railway stationWhitchurch station serves the town of Whitchurch, Hampshire UK. The station is served and operated by South West Trains.-Services and facilities:A ticket office is available during the morning peak.Off peak services:*West of England Main Line...
- AndoverAndover railway stationAndover station serves the town of Andover, Hampshire UK. The station is served and operated by South West Trains. The station is 107 km south west of London Waterloo on the West of England Main Line ....
- GrateleyGrateley railway stationGrateley station serves the village of Grateley in Hampshire, UK. The station is located in western portion of the village near the hamlet of Palestine approximately a mile from the eastern part of the village...
- SalisburySalisbury railway stationSalisbury is a railway station serving the city of Salisbury, Wiltshire. Located southwest of London Waterloo, the station is the crossing point of the West of England Main Line and the Wessex Main Line...
- TisburyTisbury railway stationTisbury railway station serves the village of Tisbury in Wiltshire, England. Opened in 1859, it is currently managed by South West Trains and is on its London Waterloo to Exeter line, from London.-History:...
- GillinghamGillingham (Dorset) railway stationGillingham railway station is in Gillingham in Dorset England. It opened in 1859 on the London Waterloo to Exeter line from London, and is managed by South West Trains.-History:...
- TemplecombeTemplecombe railway stationTemplecombe railway station serves the town of Templecombe in Somerset, England. It is situated on the London Waterloo to Exeter line from London. The main station opened in 1860 but a smaller station on the lower line opened in 1862. It was closed in 1966 but was reopened in 1983 following local...
- SherborneSherborne railway stationSherborne railway station serves the town of Sherborne in Dorset, England. It is situated on the London Waterloo to Exeter line, from London. Opened in 1860, it is currently operated by South West Trains.-History:...
- YeovilYeovilYeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
JunctionYeovil Junction railway stationYeovil Junction railway station is the busier of two railway stations serving the town of Yeovil in England. The station is outside the town in the village of Stoford; although Yeovil is in Somerset, the station was in Dorset until 1995. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway in... - CrewkerneCrewkerne railway stationCrewkerne railway station is located in Misterton, Somerset, England, and serves the area around the town of Crewkerne. It is from London Waterloo on the West of England Main Line to Exeter. The main building is listed Grade II and is surrounded by several other old railway buildings.-History:The...
- AxminsterAxminster railway stationAxminster railway station serves the town of Axminster in Devon, England. Opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1860, it is now served by South West Trains’ London Waterloo to Exeter services. It is from Waterloo.-History:...
- HonitonHoniton railway stationHoniton railway station serves the town of Honiton in East Devon, England. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1860 but is now operated by South West Trains which provides services on the London Waterloo to Exeter route.-History:...
- FenitonFeniton railway stationFeniton railway station serves the village of Feniton in Devon, England. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1860 but is now operated by South West Trains which provides services on the London Waterloo to Exeter route....
(Limited Stops) - WhimpleWhimple railway stationWhimple railway station serves the village of Whimple in East Devon, Devon, England. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1860 but is now operated by South West Trains which provides services on the London Waterloo to Exeter route....
(Limited Stops) - PinhoePinhoe railway stationPinhoe railway station is a railway station on the eastern edge the city of Exeter, Devon, England, that serves the village of Pinhoe. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1871 but is now operated by South West Trains which provides services on the London Waterloo to Exeter...
(Limited Stops) - ExeterExeterExeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
CentralExeter Central railway stationExeter Central railway station is the most centrally located of the railway stations in Exeter, Devon, England. It is smaller than St Davids which is on the west side of the city but it is served by trains on the London Waterloo to Exeter main line, and is also by local services to , and . From... - ExeterExeterExeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
St Davids
Current operations
Passenger services are currently operated by South West TrainsSouth West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
using Class 159
British Rail Class 159
The British Rail Class 159 is a class of diesel multiple unit of the Sprinter family, built in 1989 - 1992 by BREL at the Derby Carriage and Wagon Works as Class 158...
and Class 158
British Rail Class 158
British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit train, built for British Rail between 1989 and 1992 by BREL at its Derby Works. They were built to replace many locomotive-hauled passenger trains, and allowed cascading of existing Sprinter units to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs...
trains. Currently trains generally run half-hourly from London to Salisbury, and hourly to Exeter. The Network Rail South West Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy (March 2006) recommended building an extended section of double track from Chard Junction to Axminster
Axminster railway station
Axminster railway station serves the town of Axminster in Devon, England. Opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1860, it is now served by South West Trains’ London Waterloo to Exeter services. It is from Waterloo.-History:...
, plus a passing loop at Whimple
Whimple railway station
Whimple railway station serves the village of Whimple in East Devon, Devon, England. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1860 but is now operated by South West Trains which provides services on the London Waterloo to Exeter route....
. However, Network Rail's Route Plan, is silent on the Whimple loop. As built, the Axminster Loop is centred on Axminster station, and does not extend to Chard Junction as originally proposed.
An hourly service now runs between Exeter and London Waterloo (almost clockface except for a few early morning services) as published in the timetable starting 12 December 2010. The stations between Exeter Central and Honiton (Pinhoe, Whimple and Feniton) retain a two-hourly service, but with services alternating between calling at Pinhoe, and Whimple and Feniton with few services calling at all three stations. South West Trains no longer runs beyond Exeter from December 2009.
The line is not electrified
Railway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
(except for the SWML
South Western Main Line
The South Western Main Line is a railway line between London Waterloo and Weymouth on the Dorset coast, in the south of England. It is a major railway which serves many important commuter areas, as well as the major settlements of Southampton and Bournemouth...
portion).
The typical off-peak services are:
- 1tph London to SalisburySalisbury railway stationSalisbury is a railway station serving the city of Salisbury, Wiltshire. Located southwest of London Waterloo, the station is the crossing point of the West of England Main Line and the Wessex Main Line...
calling at all stations - 1tph London to Exeter St. DavidsExeter St Davids railway stationExeter St Davids station is the most important of seven National Rail stations in the city of Exeter in southwest England. Today the station is owned by Network Rail and operated by First Great Western.-History:...
- Some of these trains divide with a portion going to Bristol Temple MeadsBristol Temple Meads railway stationBristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest railway station in Bristol, England. It is an important transport hub for public transport in Bristol, with bus services to various parts of the city and surrounding districts, and a ferry service to the city centre in addition to the...
- Some of these trains divide with a portion going to Bristol Temple Meads
Between London Waterloo and Basingstoke, trains for the West of England Main Line call at Clapham Junction
Clapham Junction railway station
Clapham Junction railway station is near St John's Hill in the south-west of Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth. Although it is in Battersea, the area around the station is commonly identified as Clapham Junction....
and Woking
Woking railway station
Woking railway station is a railway station in England, serving the town of Woking, Surrey. It is a major stop on the South Western Main Line and is used by many commuters...
.
See also
- Exeter to Plymouth railway of the LSWRExeter to Plymouth railway of the LSWRThe Exeter to Plymouth railway of the London and South Western Railway was the westernmost part of a route competing with that of the Great Western Railway and its 'associated companies' from London to Exeter and Plymouth in Devon, England...
- Southern Railway routes west of SalisburySouthern Railway routes west of SalisburyThis article describes the history and operation of the railway routes west of Salisbury that ultimately became part of the Southern Railway in the United Kingdom...