Train Services Cut on Key South Western Line Amid Soil Drying Crisis

South Western Railway (SWR) is set to introduce a reduced timetable and impose speed restrictions on its vital London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids route due to an increasingly serious condition known as soil moisture deficit.

The changes come into effect from Monday, 11 August, and will see services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids halved, with trains now running once every two hours instead of hourly. Passengers can also expect journey times up to one hour longer than usual.

The new timetable also affects services between London Waterloo and Yeovil Junction, which will run 25 minutes slower than normal.

In a small silver lining, Crewkerne station—previously served by rail-replacement buses since late July—will regain a train service, albeit reduced to one train every two hours on the Waterloo–Exeter route.

Dry Weather Wreaks Havoc on Rail Infrastructure

The disruption stems from soil moisture deficit, a condition caused by prolonged dry weather which has led to significant shrinkage in the clay soil embankments that support sections of track between Gillingham (Dorset) and Axminster (Devon).

According to the Met Office, spring 2025 was the warmest, sunniest, and driest since records began in 1910. The lack of rainfall has dried out the ground beneath railway embankments, causing them to shrink and destabilise the tracks.

As a result, speed restrictions have been imposed for safety, with trains between Gillingham and Axminster now limited to just 40mph, down from the usual 85mph.

Officials Acknowledge Impact

Stuart Meek, SWR’s Chief Operating Officer, apologised to passengers and acknowledged the difficulties the new timetable will pose:

“We are very sorry for the disruption that customers will experience due to this change, as we know just how important the West of England line is to the communities it serves.

We have not taken this decision lightly… but to continue operating a safe and reliable service, we have no alternative.”

Tom Desmond, Operations Director at Network Rail, echoed these concerns, stating:

“The safety of our customers is our number one priority, which is why we must impose these speed restrictions between Gillingham and Axminster.

Following a comprehensive analysis of ground and track conditions, we know that we must make changes in the next two weeks.”

No Quick Fix

Network Rail says any attempt to stabilise the ground at this stage would be short-lived, as the soil continues to shift with ongoing dry conditions. Instead, engineers will wait for natural rehydration of the soil, after which they’ll carry out lasting repairs to restore normal track levels and reinstate the standard timetable.

However, with the dry spell showing no signs of letting up, further restrictions may yet be on the horizon.

Passengers are advised to check journey times before travel and allow extra time for their trips—especially those heading west of Yeovil.

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For live updates and travel information, visit southwesternrailway.com or follow @SW_Help on X (formerly Twitter).