Rail passengers in Dorset and Devon are facing extended journey times and reduced services after extreme dry weather caused embankments to shrink and destabilise sections of railway track.
South Western Railway (SWR) confirmed it has had to introduce speed restrictions and a reduced timetable on its route between London Waterloo and Exeter, following the sunniest spring in more than 100 years and the second driest spring in England since 1976.
The lack of moisture has caused soil embankments to contract, particularly along a 12-mile stretch between Gillingham and Axminster, leading to structural movement beneath the tracks. As a result, trains are now limited to 40mph instead of 85mph on affected sections, extending journey times by up to an hour.
SWR said the speed restrictions on this single-track line mean trains can no longer pass each other at scheduled times, forcing a cut in services.
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