Rail
At Western Gateway STB, we collaborate with local authorities and partners like Network Rail, Great Western Railway, South Western Railway, CrossCountry and Great British Railways to deliver an integrated and effective rail service for everyone in our region and beyond.
2020 Rail strategy
Our Rail Strategy, published in 2020, outlines a clear vision across five key themes to improve rail – choice, decarbonisation, social mobility, productivity, and growth – supported by focused objectives, the regional priorities and actions.
Our projects
It’s full steam ahead to deliver following exciting projects:
Dorset Metro
We’re exploring, jointly funded with Dorset Council, options for additional rail services between Wareham and Brockenhurst, including an ‘all stations’ calling service and/or a ‘limited stops’ service. As part of the Bournemouth Strategic Station Plan, Network Rail has identified key infrastructure upgrades needed to make these service increases, including:
- Reduced headways and junction margins at Brockenhurst
- New platforms, track, and footbridge works at Bournemouth
- Double tracking at Weymouth and between Moreton and Dorchester
The strategic Outline Business Case due to be published late Spring 2025.
West of England Line
We’re assessing the feasibility of introducing a 2 trains per hour, all-stations service between Yeovil Junction and Salisbury, alongside performance improvements around Tisbury.
Network Rail’s timetabling work has identified key infrastructure upgrades needed to support this, including:
- Extending the Tisbury Loop by six miles towards Wilton or
- Adding a new platform and extending the loop at Tisbury
Early development work is underway to evaluate feasibility, costs, and economic benefits to ensure value for money.
Strategic Outline Business Case due to be published early Summer 2025.
Bristol to Oxford line
A quick and cost-effective opportunity exists to reinstate direct rail services between Oxford, Swindon, Bath, and Bristol. Building on the successful Saturday trial, this new hourly, all-day service would cut journey times to under 1 hour 15 minutes between Oxford and Bristol and just over 30 minutes to Swindon.
This service would strengthen links between industries, universities, and tourist destinations while maximizing the impact of major investments like East West Rail and MetroWest.
Heart of Wessex Line
Network Rail have investigated the potential to explore the current state of rail provision along the Heart of Wessex Line, considering the markets it serves and the potential opportunities that an enhanced 1tph service could provide along the line between Bristol and Weymouth.
Please get in touch to receive the full Strategic Outline Business Case.
Our rail focused groups
Rail Officer Group (ROG)
The Rail Officer Group meets monthly to provide updates on the Western Gateway’s rail programme to officers from our nine local authorities and get their input. Wider rail issues are discussed, which includes creating joint responses to rail industry consultations.
Community Rail Partnership
We host quarterly meetings with six Community Rail Partnerships in the region. We value their innovative work on encouraging rail use for everyone. Our meetings are two way with updates provided on the work of the Western Gateway and the Partnerships updating on their activities. With so much happening on rail, we’re moving the frequency of meetings to every two months.
Future work
The Wiltshire Strategic Rail Study included recommendations for enhancing services across the county. This includes bringing back into use the fourth platform at Westbury, unlocking capacity at this important junction and improving resilience and performance. The Western Gateway will be funding business case development for this project in 2025/26.
We want to take the Heart of Wessex Line development to Full Business Case and promote the Dorset Metro and West of England Line work once their Strategic Outline Business Cases are completed.
We will work regionally with Great British Railways, Peninsula Transport and emerging Mayoral Combined Authorities on future rail services and plans and devolution.