Good news at last for rail travellers in the South West. South Western Railway and Network Rail have confirmed that the full West of England Line timetable will be reinstated from Saturday 29 November, restoring hourly London Waterloo–Exeter St Davids services and normal journey times.
Tom Desmond, Network Rail’s Wessex Route Operations Director, speaking on behalf of South Western Railway and Network Rail, said:
“We can confirm that we are set to restore the full timetable on the West of England Line on Saturday 29 November. We know just how important this line is to its local communities, with our customers using services to reach their places of work, or local schools and colleges.
“We have closely monitored ground conditions and are now able to start track repairs. Once those repairs are complete, trains will be able to run at full line speeds, bringing the full timetable back into operation.
“We are very grateful to our customers for their continued patience and would like to sincerely apologise for the disruption they have experienced since August.”
The announcement ends more than three months of disruption that halved the route’s frequency after extreme summer heat and soil movement damaged embankments between Gillingham (Dorset) and Axminster (Devon).
Service returns after three months of disruption
From 11 August 2025, SWR introduced a temporary two-hourly timetable while engineers imposed a 40 mph speed limit through the unstable section. What should have been a straightforward three-hour journey often stretched close to four.
At Crewkerne, services were even suspended for several days while monitoring and drainage works were carried out. Now, with the ground stabilised, the full hourly pattern will resume, restoring direct connections through Yeovil Junction, Crewkerne, Axminster, and Honiton.
A Network Rail spokesperson said that following months of monitoring and reinforcement work, ground conditions had stabilised sufficiently for the speed restrictions to be lifted and the full timetable to return. The company thanked passengers and communities along the route for their patience.
Why the slowdown happened
The disruption was caused by soil-moisture deficit, the shrinking and cracking of clay embankments after prolonged dry weather. Much of the West of England Line sits on Victorian earthworks never designed for modern trains or today’s changing climate.
Network Rail explained earlier this year that because track levels had been disturbed, trains could not travel safely at normal speeds. The single-track layout west of Salisbury made matters worse: when one train slowed, delays spread in both directions.
Climate change and an ageing network
This summer’s disruption has been described as one of the clearest examples yet of climate-driven stress on Britain’s railway. Hot, dry spells cause clay to shrink; heavy rain then destabilises the slopes.
As reported by The Guardian, the episode was one of the first widespread examples of climate-related track deformation in Britain’s modern network. Network Rail’s own Soil Moisture Deficit on the Railway briefing warns that similar issues will return unless adaptation work, better drainage, stronger slopes and continuous ground monitoring is prioritised.
Impact on passengers and communities
For many in rural Dorset, Somerset, and East Devon, the reduced timetable was more than an inconvenience. It disrupted working lives, studies, and tourism-related trade.
Commuters from Honiton and Crewkerne reported missed connections and unreliable travel. SWR apologised but emphasised that safety had to come first. The Dartmoor Railway Association warned in September that the amended timetable could last for several months, while parish councils from Gittisham to Crewkerne underlined how dependent their residents are on the line.
Trackside businesses feel the strain
The reduced timetable has not only affected travellers but also the small independent businesses that rely on regular footfall from the line. At Axminster Station, The Railway Kitchen, which sits directly on the platform, described the last few months as particularly difficult.
In a recent Facebook post, the café said:
“We are pleased to hear that the line will return to an hourly service at the end of the month. We have seen a significant drop in customer numbers since August 12th. However, since our recent post a few weeks ago, the support from our community has been incredibly strong, and it has been lovely to see so many familiar faces again.”
The café added that this time of year normally brings an increase in visitors heading to the Exeter Christmas Market, festive events, and winter sports fixtures, and that the restoration of the hourly timetable should “bring some festive cheer and renewed hope to everyone.”
Economic ripples
Although no formal figure has been released, the financial impact is thought to be significant. The Peninsula Rail Task Force’s Closing the Gap report predicted £7.2 billion in long-term regional growth from improved rail investment, while the 2014 Dawlish closure cost an estimated £1.2 billion.
The 2025 slowdown was far smaller, but it again showed how fragile the South West’s economy becomes when its transport arteries falter.
Political pressure and calls for action
Regional MPs have welcomed the restoration of the timetable but stressed that lessons must be learned.
Adam Dance, MP for Yeovil, said on Facebook:
“Good news – from 29 November, the West of England Line between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids will return to an hourly service, meaning more regular trains stopping at Crewkerne and Yeovil Junction.”
Richard Foord, MP for Honiton & Sidmouth, told Parliament in September that the struggle with rail infrastructure was not an occasional disruption but an everyday reality. He said journeys that should take a little over three hours were being dragged out to nearly four, and renewed calls for limited dualling near Whimple to improve reliability.
David Reed, MP for Exmouth & Exeter East, added that buses were no substitute for a reliable, frequent rail service and warned that the West of England Line must not be left behind as other regions modernise.
Could it have been prevented?
The vulnerability of this route was flagged long ago. The West of England Line Study (2020) highlighted the risks from unstable embankments and single-track sections but its recommendations for dualling and reinforcement were postponed.
The Peninsula Rail Task Force later warned that limited investment west of Salisbury leaves the South West more exposed to disruption from extreme weather.
Rail specialists say that modest upgrades, improved drainage, polymer-stabilised soils, and continuous moisture sensors could have averted this summer’s restrictions. As The Times observed, the clay is not new, but it is drying out faster; the challenge is to build a railway that can cope with that reality.
Looking ahead
With full service returning on 29 November, Network Rail will continue to reinforce slopes and trial polymer-treated clays with Cranfield University and the British Geological Survey.
Latest Information
Latest information:
South Western Railway has confirmed that the full West of England Line timetable between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids will resume from Saturday, 29 November 2025. Temporary speed restrictions between Gillingham and Axminster remain in place until then, meaning longer journeys and reduced frequency for the next few weeks. Travellers can find the latest service updates and planned engineering details on the operator’s website: West of England Line Changes.
Our view
For passengers and communities alike, this restoration is more than a return to normal; it is a reminder of how vital the line is to the region’s identity and economy.
The West of England Line has carried generations of travellers through Dorset, Somerset, and Devon. Its future now depends on facing modern realities: hotter summers, heavier rain, and the need for lasting investment.
When hourly trains resume on 29 November, it will be a welcome sight, and we hope a signal that the South West’s railway resilience is finally moving up the national agenda.
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Accuracy and Disclaimer
Information in this article is correct to the best of our knowledge as of 5 November 2025.This article is intended for general information and discussion only and should not be regarded as formal travel advice. Travellers are advised to check the latest journey updates on the South Western Railway and National Rail websites before travelling.