Rail services at Axminster, Crewkerne and Yeovil Junction unaffected by operator change - 🚆
Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
Passengers travelling through Axminster, Crewkerne, and Yeovil Junction have been reassured that they will experience no disruption to services despite significant changes to the train operator behind the scenes.
From Saturday, 25th May, South Western Railway services will be operated by a newly established public body, South Western Railway Ltd, as part of a planned move into public ownership.
The transition marks a legal and administrative change, but officials emphasise that passengers will notice no difference in their day-to-day journeys.
A spokesperson for South Western Railway said: “Although the legal operator is changing, your experience won’t. You’ll continue to see the same branding, same services, and the same teams running your trains.”
Existing services will run as normal, with no impact on current ticketing or future bookings. All tickets purchased for travel after 25th May will remain valid, and customers are encouraged to continue buying and using tickets as usual.
Additionally, the spokesperson noted that while South Western Railway Ltd will now have new responsibilities - such as falling under the Freedom of Information Act - passenger data will continue to be managed using the same systems and by the same personnel. This, they say, ensures “continuity of service with minimal impact”.
Until the switchover later this month, services will continue to be operated by First MTR South Western Trains Ltd.
The change is part of a wider movement within the UK’s rail network, aiming to bring operations more closely in line with public service goals and to provide a more accountable, transparent service for passengers.
( Photo: Pulman's Weekly News 📸 )