ENGINEERING work on a train line which was due to take place over the coming bank holiday weekend has been postponed to avoid disruption to passengers wanting to visit Dorset.

Track renewals on Great Western Railway’s route to Weymouth were originally planned to take place on the line between Yeovil and Weymouth between May 29-31, over the late May bank holiday.

Now, the works which were due to take place at Chetnole are to instead be re-planned for later in the year, with Network Rail keen to avoid disruption for passengers seeking to take advantage of loosening lockdown restrictions and travel to the Dorset coast.

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Maintenance of the line to Weymouth is managed by Network Rail’s Wessex Route.

Route director Mark Killick said: “This spring has featured some dreadful weather so far but with lockdown easing and the sun due on the horizon soon, everyone’s long overdue some good times.

“Safety is still our priority though, and although we can safely put it back for now, we do still need to do this track work."

Network Rail have confirmed that other engineering work on its Wessex route will be going ahead over the bank holiday period as planned, with potential disruptions to services including between Salisbury and Gillingham/Westbury, and around Leatherhead and Aldershot.