From Monday 28 July, until further notice, trains will not call at Crewkerne due to temporary speed restriction.

A connecting bus service will run from Yeovil Junction to Axminster calling at Crewkerne.

  We are experiencing some of the driest conditions for around 200 years, and in the Crewkerne area this has dried out and shrunk the clay soil embankments that support our tracks. This is a problem known as ‘soil moisture deficit’, which Network Rail explains here.

Because track levels have been disturbed, our trains cannot travel safely at their normal speeds, meaning we have to implement a 40mph speed restriction on four miles of track. Unfortunately, track levels cannot be restored to normal until ground conditions improve.

Why can’t trains call at Crewkerne?

If trains continue to call at Crewkerne it will create delays that will quickly spread along the West of England Line, leading to cancellations and large gaps between services.

As a result, we have had to make the difficult decision for trains not to call at Crewkerne.

When will trains call at Crewkerne again?

We will restore train services as soon as we possibly can, but until further notice, trains will not call at Crewkerne.

As hot and dry conditions are set to continue, we are warning customers that additional speed restrictions and further timetable changes are likely to be necessary west of Salisbury over the summer. We are carefully monitoring embankment and track conditions to understand when changes will be needed.

The good news: from Monday 11th August trains will call at Crewkerne again
The bad news: every 2 hours

Further information about the West of England line changes on the SWR website:
https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/west-of-england-changes

At least it should keep the mileage down on the 159s.

Yes, trains between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids will call at Crewkerne from Monday 11 August, once every two hours.

•   One train per hour from London Waterloo to Yeovil Junction - taking approximately 25 minutes longer than usual.

•   One train every two hours from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids - reduced from one train per hour, taking approximately one hour longer to Exeter than usual

Sorry Graham - everyone else would read "every 2 hours" as each way....not much use knowing they stop twice every two hours, once in each direction.

or the good burghers of Crewkerne threw their collective toys out of the prams.

The amended service for the 11th p is now on RTT
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/
It seems that pathing on the single line means more use is made of Honiton and Gillingham vice Axminster and Tisbury loop, and those stops are extended, not the usual couple of minutes

the same time![/url]

As an aside - and not attempting to tempt providence - let's hope nothing untoward happens between Exeter St David's and Taunton on GWR's main line, requiring a diversion between St David's and Castle Cary!

The issues have been caused by serious shortages of spare parts at WABTEC in Barton, Staffordshire, where the engines are sent for servicing. The C6 examinations, planned for later this year will also stretch the availability of existing units, so cancellations and 3 car formations are likely to continue.

  MP 98.7 - 103.6  Between Tisbury and Gillingham (near Semley)
MP 108.6 - 111.7  Between Gillingham and Templecombe
MP 124.3 - 128.4 Between Yeovil Junction and Crewkerne (near Sutton Bingham)
MP 146.4 - 150.4 Between Axminster and Honiton  (near Seaton Junction)

  Weekend Timetables (and August Bank Holiday Monday) have not yet been updated
The current weekday timetables are only valid until Friday 29 August.
September (and onwards) still show the "normal" hourly services - although it is almost certain that these will be amended in due course.
Trains will once again stop at Crewkerne station from 11 August.