RAIL improvement works are set to disrupt train services to and from Dorset for ten weekdays.

Network Rail is set to carry out track upgrades and maintenance between Dorchester West, Yeovil Pen Mill, and Castle Cary as well as station improvements at Maiden Newton.

As a result no trains will be able to run between Yeovil Pen Mill and Dorchester West for ten days between Monday, February 27 and Friday, March 10.

There will be no impact on South Western Railway trains serving Weymouth, Upwey or Dorchester South stations.

Services will run as normal on the weekends whilst any trains between Weymouth and Bristol Temple Meads will be forced to start and terminate at Yeovil Pen Mill on weekdays between February 27 and March 3.

Buses will replace GWR trains between Weymouth and Yeovil Pen Mill on weekdays from February 27 to March 10.

However customers will be able to complete their journey with South Western Railway accepting tickets between Weymouth and Southampton Central where commuters can then change trains and continue to Bristol Temple Meads - utilising a different track route.

Ben Scott, GWR’s Station Manager for Westbury, Wiltshire & Dorset, said: “These upgrades are part of an ongoing programme of work that will enable us to maintain services for customers travelling on the Heart of Wessex route.

“To help customers, we have ticket acceptance in place with SWR and Network Rail has agreed to reopen the line to enable our Weymouth trains to run at the weekend.

“We will also be providing alternative road transport, to ensure our customers can still complete their journeys during this period.”

Mark Killick, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said: “I’m delighted to see that our work to improve the railway in the Heart of Wessex is continuing this February.

“Over the last few years we’ve made a major investment in this area to improve our infrastructure, renewing miles of track, refurbishing stations and replacing a bridge at Yetminster.

“This upcoming closure means we’re another step closure to a safer, more reliable railway and I’d like to thank our passengers for their patience over the next few weeks.”