Crewkerne station to close due to track safety concerns
Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
Crewkerne Station has been temporarily closed due to safety concerns arising from extreme dry weather, rail operators have announced.
From Monday 28th July, trains will no longer stop at the station until further notice, with Network Rail and South Western Railway (SWR) confirming that replacement bus services will operate instead.
The decision follows a detailed inspection of the trackbed, where prolonged dry conditions have caused the soil beneath the rails to shrink. This ground movement has led to track distortion, making it unsafe for trains to pass through the affected area at regular speeds.
As a result, a rail replacement bus service will operate between Yeovil Junction and Axminster, with an expected journey time of around 30 minutes each way. Passengers are being urged to allow additional time for travel and to check the South Western Railway website for the latest service updates.
A spokesperson for SWR said the disruption forms part of a wider amended timetable across the West of England Line, where similar issues have been reported.
“This kind of soil shrinkage can severely affect track stability,” the spokesperson explained. “Until the ground conditions improve, we cannot guarantee safe travel through Crewkerne at normal operating speeds.”
The closure is expected to impact many local commuters and residents, with concerns being raised by local representatives pushing for services to resume as quickly as possible - once it is deemed safe.
Further information and travel updates are available at: www.southwesternrailway.com
( Photo: DW Regional Press Photos 📸 )