Discover more about the people who run Network Rail, our commitment to safety and sustainability and how we connect Britain through our infrastructure.
Our work keeps Britain moving. From maintaining and upgrading thousands of miles of track to delivering major infrastructure projects, we ensure the railway is safe, reliable, and sustainable.
Whether you're planning a journey or need station information, we can help. Discover everything from accessibility and safety to how we manage disruptions and support passengers.
We’re building a better railway for a better Britain—and we need passionate people to help us do it. Whether you're just starting out, changing direction, or looking to grow your career, we offer a wide range of opportunities.
Our engineers will strengthen embankments at Evershot Tunnel, Dorset to help prevent the risk of landslips from disrupting journeys.
To stabilise the embankments, engineers will cut through soil and rock and stabilise the slope by using soil nails and netting
To take full advantage of the 8-day closure we will also:
Stress test the continuous welded rail to improve reliability, reducing the need for speed restrictions in hotter months
Carry out minor improvements to the track in the Thornford area following recent track renewal in September 2024
Carefully manage vegetation by selecting diseased and dangerous trees that could cause delays to the running of trains between Chetnole and Maiden Newton Railway Stations
What to expect?
The work will involve using an array of specialist equipment including, RRVs and trailers, track trolleys, generators, hand tools, survey equipment and off-track machines.
Why is the work needed?
When landslips happen, unfortunately so do delays. A train can’t swerve to avoid debris on the line in the same way a car can avoid a small obstruction on the road.
The safety of our passengers and colleagues is our priority and that’s why this work is essential.
The combined work will make for more reliable journeys with less need for speed restrictions in hotter months.
Previous work
What work took place?
During a 7-day closure in March we replaced 850 tonnes of ballast stone over a 250-metre stretch of track between Castle Cary and Yeovil Pen Mill.
Our engineers worked on the line from Monday 10 to Sunday 16 March. During the closure replacement buses ran between Castle Cary and Yeovil Pen Mill on weekdays and from Castle Cary and Weymouth at the weekend.
Why was the work needed?
The ballast stone and sleepers in the area were at risk of flooding. Replacing the ballast with fresh stone is essential to help prevent track failures, delays and disruption to passengers.
Whilst the line was closed, we also completed essential track maintenance at Maiden Newton station and carried out vital repairs to signals at Yeovil Pen Mill station.
To reduce the risk of disruption to services our teams also removed a number of dead, diseased and dangerous trees in the Yeovil area.
Most recently, from 23 to 29 September 2024, we replaced a mile of track between Thornford and Yeovil Pen Mill stations which involved the installation of 2,100 new concrete sleepers and 3,500 tonnes of new ballast stone.
Why was the work needed?
The steel jointed track was over 50 years old and prone to faults, requiring regular inspections – causing delays to passengers. The brand-new continuous welded rail will make for smoother, more comfortable and reliable journeys with less need for speed restrictions in hotter months.
To take full advantage of the week-long closure we also:
Made improvements to the junctions on either side of Maiden Newton station by replacing two sets of switches and crossings (switches and crossings are moveable sections of track that guide trains from one track to another and allow them to cross paths).
Completed bridge inspections at both Poundbury and Grimstone tunnels
Carried out signalling and telecommunications testing
Carefully managed vegetation by selecting diseased and dangerous trees that could cause delays to the running of trains.
This ongoing improvement project started in February 2020 when we replaced a bridge at Yetminster, then in March 2021, we carried out essential maintenance at Yeovil Pen Mill station.
From Monday 16 to Friday 20 October 2023 our teams worked round the clock to replace 758 metres of 1950s track between Maiden Newton and Chetnole, bringing yet another part of this line up to modern standards.
In February and March 2023 our teams successfully completed two back-to-back 5-day weekday closures between Castle Cary/Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth.
Our engineers took advantage of this extended line closure to complete multiple improvement works along the line. During 240 site hours, we:
Renewed over 2,000 yards of railway through Thornford station, replacing track and old timber sleepers with new concrete ones.
Refurbished Maiden Newton station, repairing the canopies, giving the station a clean and a fresh lick of paint.
Installed new tactile pavings at Yeovil Pen Mill station to keep all our passengers safe
Cleared overgrown vegetation and maintained key bits of railway infrastructure.
In September 2022 a week-long closure from Weymouth to Yeovil Pen Mill saw our engineers replace 1950s track in the Yetminster area, overhaul the Yeovil Pen Mill signal box and resurface the platform at Yetminster station.
In November and December 2021, we replaced four miles of track between Maiden Newton and Yetminster, improved Weymouth and Upwey stations and carried out bridge and track maintenance.Check
Contact us
For more information or to get in touch with us, please contact us by visiting our contact us page or by calling our 24-hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41. Information can also be found on our twitter page @NetworkRailWssx
