TRANSPORT Minister Lord Andrew Adonis has backed moves to restore a Dorset to London rail link.

He praised the Swanage Railway and pledged to help when he visited the volunteer-run network.

He promised to back re-signalling works so a permanent train service can be re-instated from Swanage to link with the main line at Wareham.

His fact-finding visit to the Swanage Railway came a fortnight after the first train ran from London to Swanage since the line was closed by British Rail in January, 1972.

Lord Adonis describing the plans to re-open the rail link as ‘highly credible’ on a whistle-stop visit to the volunteer-run Swanage Railway on a five day tour of Britain’s railway.

Lord Adonis said: “I have had a great trip. The key issue is the resignalling and whether it’s going to be possible.

“I have undertaken to host a meeting at the Department for Transport with all parties – including Jim Knight, the local authority, the Regional Development Agency and Network Rail once detailed costings have been obtained to see if we can fund the work so that resignalling can take place.”

South Dorset MP Jim Knight organised Lord Adonis’s visit to the railway. The aim of the Department for Transport meeting will be to discuss the financing and timescales of re-signalling work at Worgret Junction as part of Network Rail’s Poole to Wool signalling renewal scheme. The aim is for a regular train service between Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage.

After his visit, Lord Adonis described the Swanage Railway as being a “large, enthusiastic and highly professional team”.

The Transport Minister added that there was ‘strong local support’ and that ‘since the track is all there and the business case is promising, the proposal is highly credible’.

Lord Adonis also praised the Swanage Railway for its heritage steam operation.

Swanage Railway chairman Mike Whitwam said: “The visit by Lord Adonis was very positive. He said that he would explore how we could fully reopen the rail link from Wareham to Swanage with a daily train service.

“The visit was a significant step forward towards achieving that long-held ambition which dates back to 1972 when British Rail closed and lifted the line.”