Service alteration details

A speed restriction is in place over defective track between Tisbury and Gillingham. As a result a temporary revised timetable is in operation between Salisbury, Yeovil Junction and Exeter St Davids. 

The revised timetable is expected to be in place until the end of the day on Monday 31 October. 

Customer Advice:

In order to provide a more reliable service, a temporary revised timetable is operating between Salisbury, Yeovil Junction and Exeter St Davids. If you are intending to travel on this route, please check your journey before you travel as journey times will be extended and some services will not operate. 

Why is the speed restriction in place?

The very hot and dry conditions of recent weeks have dried out the clay soil beneath the embankments. When clay dries out, it shrinks. This has caused track defects along the line between Tisbury and Gillingham, which means trains cannot run at full speed.

Because the clay soil is still shrinking, Network Rail can not make the necessary repairs to the track right now; instead they need to wait until the shrinking has stopped to make a long term repair. 

​​​​​​​Check before you travel:

You can check your journey until Sunday 16 October using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner as the revised timetable has now been uploaded until that date. For journeys from Monday 17 October, please check back closer to the time of travel. 

You are also advised to check again on the day of travel in case of any short notice delays, cancellations and alterations.

For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility information, please use this page.

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

Twitter:
If you would like to follow this incident on Twitter, please use #Tisbury

Compensation:
You may be entitled to compensation if you experience a delay in completing your journey today. Please keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.