Dorchester South station wrongly included in SWR programme

South Western Railway (SWR) wrongly announced Dorchester South station would be one of the stations to benefit from its £6.5 million improvement programme. 

The Dorset Echo originally received official notification stating that Dorchester West station was part of the programme. 

When this was queried whether the company was referring to Dorchester South station, SWR said that this was a "rogue entry" and that Dorchester shouldn't have been included in the press release - which was sent to media across the region.

Dorchester South station (Image: Tom Lawrence)

The investment was for improvements at more than 100 different stations on the SWR network, with the money to be used for plans ranging from accessibility upgrades to the refurbishment of waiting rooms. 

This investment for SWR stations is separate to a scheme to improve accessibility at Dorchester South by installing a new bridge.

As previously reported, there have long been calls to improve accessibility at Dorchester South station as passengers with limited mobility have experienced difficulties using the pedestrian bridge connecting platforms.

Kerry Martin, a member of the charity People First Dorset, uses a wheelchair and previously voiced her concerns to the Echo, calling Dorchester South station "a nightmare" to access. 

Recently the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that a feasibility study will go ahead and if this is deemed successful, works on a new lift to get disabled passengers across the platforms.

READ MORE: Dorchester railway station to get multi-million pound upgrade

This will be part of the existing Access for All scheme which was launched in 2006 to address issues faced by disabled passengers and passengers with limited mobility when using railway stations.

SWR had nominated Dorchester South for the scheme to design an accessible footbridge.

While funding was provided in 2020, SWR confirmed that work was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The railway company is now waiting for design work to be completed by Network Rail and it is unable to confirm how much this footbridge work would cost. 

Bridge at Dorchester South (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Brewery Square and Dorset Council have also pledged to contribute to the Access for All lifts scheme if the Department of Transport award the main funding.

Community transport groups, Friends of Dorchester South Station, the Dorchester Transport Action Group and the then West Dorset MP Chris Loder have previously been in discussions to secure a variety of other improvements to the station which has seen more progress. 

Robert Potter, one of the members of Friends of Dorchester South confirmed that some of these works began two years ago, including the demolition of the 'eyesore' vacant Red Star Parcel building.

The station platforms, car park and the inside of the building were also relit, and a mixed use toilet has also been installed.