View source for West of England line

{{Short description|British railway line}}
{{distinguish|Great Western Main Line}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox rail line
 | box_width   =
 | name        = West of England line
 | color       =
 | logo        =
 | logo_width  =
 | logo_alt    =
 | image       = Templecombe 159004.jpg
 | image_width = 
 | image_alt   =
 | caption     = Templecombe station in February 2010
 | type        = [[Suburban rail]], [[Heavy rail]]
 | system      = [[National Rail]] 
 | status      = {{fontcolor|green|Operational}}
 | locale      = 
 | start       = [[Basingstoke railway station|Basingstoke]]
 | end         = {{stnlnk|Exeter St Davids}}
 | stations    = 21 (Basingstoke to Exeter St Davids)
 | routes      = 
 | daily_ridership = 
 | open        = 
 | close       =
 | owner       = [[Network Rail]]
 | operator    = [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]]
 | character   = 
 | depot       = [[Salisbury TMD]]
 | stock       = [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158 "Express Sprinter"]] <br> [[British Rail Class 159|Class 159 "South Western Turbo"]]
 | linelength  = {{convert|120|mi|77|ch|km|2|abbr=on}} [Basingstoke to Exeter St Davids] <br> {{convert|172|mi|12|ch|km|2|abbr=on}} [London to Exeter St Davids via [[South West Main Line|SWML]]]
 | tracklength = 
 | tracks      = {{Plainlist|
* 2 (Basingstoke–Salisbury)
* 1 (Salisbury–Pinhoe)
* 2 (Pinhoe–Exeter St Davids)}}
 | gauge       = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
 | minradius   =
 | electrification = 
 | speed       = {{convert|90|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} maximum
 | elevation   =
 | map         = [[File:West of England line.png|300px]]<br>([[:commons:File:West of England line.png|Click to expand]])
 | map_state   = uncollapsed
}}
{{West of England Main Line|collapse=yes}}
The '''West of England line''' (also known as the '''West of England Main Line''') is a railway line from {{Stnlnk|Basingstoke}}, [[Hampshire]], to {{stnlnk|Exeter St Davids}} in [[Devon]], England. Passenger services run between [[London Waterloo station]] and Exeter via the [[South West Main Line]]; the line intersects with the [[Wessex Main Line]] at {{Stnlink|Salisbury}}. 

The line was constructed by the [[London and South Western Railway]] (L&SWR) and the [[Salisbury and Yeovil Railway]] between 1854 and 1860, with the L&SWR eventually gaining full operation. Although it was once a significant connection from London to Southwest England, it has declined in importance since the years following the 1963 [[Beeching Report]]. Exeter can be reached more quickly from [[London Paddington]] via the [[Reading–Taunton line]], with this route providing the only direct route to destinations west of Exeter since 2009. However, the West of England line is still important as a freight and diversionary route.

== Route ==
Trains between [[London Waterloo station|London Waterloo]] and Exeter run on the [[South West Main Line]] as far as {{Stnlnk|Basingstoke}}. The West of England Line diverges at Worting Junction, a short distance west.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=14}} North of Worting Junction, stopping services to/from [[London Waterloo station|London Waterloo]] and [[CrossCountry]] services to/from the North of England via [[Reading railway station|Reading]] use the outer pair of tracks, while express services to/from London Waterloo use the inner pair of tracks. The inner pair of tracks are unelectrified through the junction and continue west to Salisbury and Exeter.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Padgett |first1=David |last2=Kelman |first2=Leanne |editor-last=Munsey |editor-first=Myles |title=Railway Track Diagrams 5: Southern & TfL |edition=4th |date=November 2019 |orig-year=1994 |publisher=Trackmaps |location=Frome |isbn=978-1-9996271-2-6 |at=map 30B }}</ref>

From here, the route heads generally westwards to {{rws|Salisbury}}, where there is a connection with the [[Wessex Main Line]], then over the [[Heart of Wessex Line]] without a junction just before {{rws|Yeovil Junction}}. There is a connection to the [[Avocet Line]] just before Exeter. The line passes through {{rws|Exeter Central}} before ending at {{rws|Exeter St Davids}}. Overall, it passes through five counties – [[Hampshire]], [[Wiltshire]], [[Dorset]], [[Somerset]] and [[Devon]].{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=14}}

[[Network Rail]] splits the line into two sections: the first section from the line's start at Worting Junction to Wilton Junction (near Salisbury) is classified as "London & SE commuter", while the rest is a "secondary" route. The secondary route west of Salisbury is predominantly single track, but has three sections of double track and four [[passing loop]]s.{{sfn|Network Rail|2010|at=p.29, figure 20}} The double track sections and passing loops are: a loop just outside Tisbury station, a loop at Gillingham station, double track from {{rws|Templecombe}} to Yeovil Junction, a loop at the former Chard Junction station, 3 miles of double track centred on Axminster, a loop at Honiton station, and double track from Pinhoe to Exeter.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=15}}

The line has a similar route to the parallel [[A303 road]], which runs from Basingstoke to Honiton.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2mnz9xejyo|title=Railway sorely in need of investment, study finds|work=BBC News|date=17 January 2025|access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref>

The line's speed limit is mainly at {{convert|80|mph}} or above over its whole length from Basingstoke to Exeter.{{sfn|Network Rail|2010|at=p. 9, figure 4}} Speed is further limited around the junctions. The first section to Wilton Junction has a listed line speed of 50–90&nbsp;mph, and the secondary section to Exeter has a line speed of mainly 85&nbsp;mph with parts at 70&nbsp;mph.{{sfn|Network Rail|2010|at=p.29, figure 20}}

There are two depots on the line operated by the South Western Railway. The traincare depot is at [[Salisbury TMD|Salisbury]], while the traincrew depot is at Yeovil Junction.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=15}}

== History ==
=== Construction ===
The line was constructed in stages completed between 1854 and 1860, and eventually was wholly operated by the [[London and South Western Railway]] (L&SWR).{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=16}} The sections and branches opened as follows:

* Basingstoke to Salisbury
** Basingstoke to [[Andover, Hampshire|Andover]], opened 3 July 1854{{sfn|Maggs|2017|p=256}}
** Andover to [[Salisbury]], opened 1 May 1857{{sfn|Maggs|2017|p=256}}
** Branches:
***''[[Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway]]'' opened June 1901, closed 12 September 1932{{sfn|Quick|2000|pp=48,74}}
*** From [[Hurstbourne railway station|Hurstbourne]] and [[Andover, Hampshire|Andover]] to [[Romsey]] and on to Eastleigh and Southampton: both closed. Link via [[Longparish]] opened 1 June 1885; closed 6 July 1931{{sfn|Quick|2000|p=278}}
*** At Andover, junction with the [[Midland and South Western Junction Railway]] to [[Cheltenham]]; open 6 March 1865, closed 7 September 1964{{sfn|Quick|2000|p=49}}
*** [[Amesbury and Military Camp Light Railway|Bulford Camp branch]], open 1 June 1906; closed 4 March 1963{{sfn|Quick|2000|p=103}}
*** At Salisbury, the [[Great Western Railway]] (GWR) line from [[Westbury, Wiltshire|Westbury]] and [[Bristol]] had its own terminus: the L&SWR continued the route southeast towards Southampton. The two stations were amalgamated on 12 September 1932.{{sfn|Quick|2000|p=376}} This route is known nowadays as the [[Wessex Main Line]].
*Between Salisbury and Exeter:
** Salisbury to [[Gillingham, Dorset|Gillingham]], opened 2 May 1859{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=52}}
** Gillingham to [[Sherborne]], opened 7 May 1860{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=52}}
** Sherbone to [[Yeovil]], opened 1 June 1860{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=52}}
** Yeovil to [[Exeter Central]], opened 19 July 1860{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=52}}
** Exeter Central to [[Exeter St Davids]], opened 1 February 1862{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=64}}
** Branches:
*** To [[Yeovil]] Town (joint station with the GWR),  opened 1 June 1861, closed 3 October 1966{{sfn|Quick|2000|p=470}}
*** To [[Chard, Somerset|Chard]] (joint station with the GWR), opened 11 September 1866, closed 10 September 1962{{sfn|Quick|2000|p=120}}
*** To [[Lyme Regis]] from [[Axminster]], opened 24 August 1903, closed 29 November 1965{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=59}}
*** To Seaton from Seaton Junction, opened 16 March 1868, closed 7 March 1966{{sfn|Thomas|1981|pp=59–60}}
*** To [[Sidmouth]] from Sidmouth Junction (also alternative route to [[Exmouth]]), opened 6 July 1874{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=60}}
*** To Exmouth from Exmouth Junction near Exeter, opened 1 May 1861{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=61}}

There had been plans to construct a direct line from London to Exeter since the beginning of railways. Although the Great Western Railway (GWR) were the first to construct a line to Exeter in 1844, this went via [[Bristol]].{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=49}} The L&SWR had opened a line to Salisbury on 1 March 1847, which ran via Southampton.{{sfn|Quick|2000|p=376}} They had agreed with the [[Southampton & Dorchester Railway]] that they would not construct any lines west of Salisbury or Dorchester, but changed their stance following the opening of the GWR route.{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=49}}

The section from Salisbury to Yeovil was originally constructed by the [[Salisbury and Yeovil Railway]].{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=48}} To allow an easy transfer at Salisbury, the original station at [[Laverstock|Milford]] was closed and rerouted to its current site at Fisherton on 2 May 1859.{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=52}}{{sfn|Quick|2000|p=376}} The section from Yeovil to Exeter involved a lengthy tunnel near Honiton, constructed from 11 million bricks. The tunnel has since been closed on occasion because of drainage problems owing to nearby natural springs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/completed-west-of-england-line-reopens-after-important-renewal-work|title=West of England line reopens after important renewal work|publisher=Network Rail|date=25 November 2024|access-date=26 June 2025}}</ref>

===Later history===
[[File:Yeovil Junction Signal Box 159018 159107.jpg|thumb|left|Yeovil Junction]]
The line was upgraded from single to double track in the 1860s, and was complete by 1 July 1870; most bridges had been built to accommodate two tracks.{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=53}} When the line was first opened in 1854, Worting Junction was constructed as a flat junction,<ref name="DjGmH">{{cite book|title=The Railway Handbook ...|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iTI7AAAAIAAJ|year=1945|publisher=Railway Publishing Company Limited|page=16|quote=... the railway to Southampton at Worting Junction, near Basingstoke, and was opened to Andover in 1854, to Salisbury in ...}}</ref> which required that down trains heading west and up trains from Southampton cross each other's paths.  Initially this was not a great concern, but as traffic and speeds increased the junction became a bottleneck.  To relieve this, a [[flying junction]] was provided to the south, opening on 30 May 1897.<ref>{{cite book|title=Steam Around Basingstoke and Salisbury|first=Charlie|last=Verrall|publisher=Amberley|year=2017|isbn=978-1-445-66393-7|page=20}}</ref>  This changed the arrangement so that up trains from Southampton line now crossed over the up and down Salisbury lines on Battledown Flyover, west of Basingstoke.{{sfn|Reed|2022|p=20}}

A [[rail motor]] service was introduced between Exeter and Honiton in 1906, but was soon cancelled.{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=55}}

After the Second World War, the line initially saw heavy investment from [[British Rail]] following nationalisation, with services including the Atlantic Express service from Waterloo to various points past Exeter,{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=16}} and a regular service from {{stnlnk|Brighton}} to {{stnlnk|Plymouth}}.{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=56}} The line speed past Salisbury was increased to {{convert|85|mph}} in 1949.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=16}} However, control of the section west of Salisbury was transferred from the Southern to the Western region in 1963, which led it into direct comparisons with the Paddington – Taunton – Exeter service and concerns over its viability.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=16}}{{sfn|White|1982|p=199}}

The [[Beeching Report]]s in the 1960s identified duplication of routes from London to the [[West Country]], and concluded the West of England line was redundant, as it carried 20% of the overall traffic between London and Exeter compared to the route via Paddington and the [[Reading–Taunton line]].{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=16}} A complete closure west of Salisbury was rumoured. Instead, the proposal was to reduce long sections west of Salisbury to single track, close minor stations, and reduce services to one train every two hours.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=16}}<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sedgwick|first=Cathy|date=2021|title=Dinton Railway Station|url=https://www.wiltshire-opc.org.uk/Items/Dinton/Dinton%20-%20Railway%20Station.pdf|access-date=24 February 2022|website=Wiltshire OPC Project}}</ref> All services beyond Exeter had been withdrawn by 1968.{{sfn|White|1982|p=199}} The proposal was toned down after concerns with overcrowding, and a {{convert|10|miles|adj=on}} section between {{rws|Templecombe}} and {{rws|Yeovil Junction}} was retained as double track.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|pp=16–17}} A passing loop at [[Tisbury, Wiltshire|Tisbury]] opened on 24 March 1986.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=17}}

The line has never been considered for electrification, and consequently all [[rolling stock]] has been steam, then diesel.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=17}} Pinhoe station re-opened in 1982, followed by Templecombe a year later.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=17}} By the 1980s, the line was clearly in decline, with limited traffic and unsatisfactory locomotive stock. However, services began to improve after the introduction of [[British Rail Class 159]]s in 1993.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|pp=17-20}} Services began running beyond Exeter again in 1992, and continued until 2009.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=17}} Additional Class 159s and [[British Rail Class 158]]s were introduced in 2006/07, having previously been used on the [[TransPennine Express]] route.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=21}}

An additional passing loop was constructed at {{rws|Axminster}} in 2009, allowing hourly services to run between Waterloo and Exeter St David's.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=17}}

== Current operations ==
===Passengers===
[[File:Honiton - SWR 159003 down train.JPG|thumb|A {{Brc|159}} at {{Stnlnk|Honiton}}]] 
Passenger services are operated by [[South Western Railway]] using [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158]] and [[British Rail Class 159|Class 159]] trains.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=18}} They generally run half-hourly from London to Salisbury and hourly to Exeter, calling at {{stnlnk|Clapham Junction}} and/or {{stnlnk|Woking}} and then most stations between Basingstoke and Exeter St Davids, although some smaller stations east of Salisbury and near Exeter have a reduced service.<ref>{{cite web| title=Table 160: London to Salisbury and Exeter| work=Electronic National Rail Timetable| publisher=Network Rail| date=May 2015| url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/eNRT/May15/timetables/Table%20160.pdf| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222142538/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/eNRT/May15/timetables/Table%20160.pdf| archive-date=22 December 2015| access-date=15 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/globalassets/pdfs/timetables/timetable_no20.pdf| url-status=usurped| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810160116/https://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/globalassets/pdfs/timetables/timetable_no20.pdf| archive-date=10 August 2016| title=Timetable No. 20| website=South West Trains}}</ref> The fastest typical off-peak time between Waterloo and Exeter is 3 hours 24 minutes.{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=19}}

The 2006 Network Rail South West Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy recommended building an extended section of double track from Chard Junction to [[Axminster railway station|Axminster]], and a passing loop at [[Whimple railway station|Whimple]].{{fact|date=November 2025}} However, Network Rail's 2008 Route Plan did not mention this.<ref>{{cite web| title=Route 4: Wessex Routes| work=Route Plans| publisher=Network Rail| year=2008| url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2008/Route%204%20-%20Wessex%20Routes.pdf| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607083035/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2008/Route%204%20-%20Wessex%20Routes.pdf| archive-date=7 June 2011| access-date=6 August 2008}}</ref>

===Freight===
The West of England line carries a significant amount of goods traffic such as aggregate, sand, quarried stone and spoil. At the eastern end, there is a branch line to the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] site at [[Ludgershall, Wiltshire|Ludgershall]]. Freight from [[Southampton Docks]] is sometimes sent via this route. The line also acts as an important freight diversion when there are closures on the [[Reading–Taunton line]] or on the South Western Main Line through {{rws|Winchester}}.{{sfn|Network Rail|2010|p=5}}{{sfn|Network Rail|2020|p=22}} Historically, the line carried a significant amount of milk from [[Chard, Somerset|Chard]], which continued until March 1980.{{sfn|Thomas|1981|p=57}}

== Future ==
There have been proposals to [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrify]] the line.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.railmagazine.com/news/2024/09/26/discontinuous-third-rail-idea-for-west-of-england-line|title=Discontinuous third rail idea for West of England Line|magazine=Rail Magazine|date=26 September 2024|access-date=25 June 2025}}</ref> In 2025, train operator [[South Western Railway (2017–2025)|South Western Railway]] estimated that their Class 159 and 158s would reach the end of their life by 2030. As an alternative to replacement by diesels or electrification, a proposal has been made for battery-operated trains with intermittent [[third rail]] charging points.<ref name=bbc/>

Following the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], the incoming [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] government cancelled the A303 [[Stonehenge road tunnel]]; study group [[Greengauge 21]] recommended improving the West of England line instead. The single track sections have particularly affected growth to the east of Exeter, and re-dualling the track between there and Axminster would allow a Devon Metro service to operate, with more frequent short-distance trains.<ref name=bbc/> In reply to a written question in Parliament in May 2025, [[Lilian Greenwood]], the parliamentary undersecretary for the Department for Transport, responded that there were no plans to improve the West of England line at that time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-05-19/53013|title=West of England Line: Standards|work=Hansard|date=19 May 2025|access-date=27 June 2025}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Exeter to Plymouth railway of the LSWR]]
* [[Rail services in the West of England]]
* [[Southern Railway routes west of Salisbury]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}


== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin}}
*  {{Cite web| url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/strategicbusinessplan/routeplans/2010/route%20c%20-%20wessex.pdf| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091728/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/strategicbusinessplan/routeplans/2010/route%20c%20-%20wessex.pdf| archive-date=2 April 2015| title=Route Plan C Wessex| date=March 2010| access-date=11 March 2015| publisher=Network Rail|ref={{harvid|Network Rail|2010}}}}
* {{cite web| title=West of England Line Study 2020|author=Network Rail|work=Line Study|year=2020|url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/West-of-England-Study-Continuous-Modular-Strategic-Planning.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131065219/https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/West-of-England-Study-Continuous-Modular-Strategic-Planning.pdf|archive-date=31 January 2021|ref={{harvid|Network Rail|2020}}}}
* {{cite book|title=A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain, volume 2: Southern England |editor1-first=David St John |editor1-last=Thomas |publisher=David & Charles|year=1982|isbn=978-0-715-34733-1|last=White |first=H.P. |editor1-link=David St John Thomas |editor2-last=Patmore |editor2-first=J. Allan |orig-year=1961 }}
* {{cite book|title=A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain, volume 1: The West Country|first=David St John |last=Thomas|publisher=David & Charles|year=1981|isbn=978-0-715-38210-3 |author-link=David St John Thomas }}
* {{cite book|title=A History of the Southern Railway|first=Colin|last=Maggs|publisher=Amberley|year=2017|isbn=978-1-445-65272-6}}
* {{cite book|title=Trains in the Southern Region: The Late 1960s and 1970s|first=David|last=Reed|publisher=Amberley|year=2022|isbn=978-1-398-11016-8}}
* {{cite book|author=R.V.J. Butt |title= The Directory of Railway Stations  |publisher=Patrick Stephens | location = Sparkford  |year=1995 | isbn = 9781852605087 }}
* {{cite book|title=Railway Passenger Stations in Great Britain : A chronology|first=Michael|last=Quick|year=2000|publisher=[[Railway and Canal Historical Society]]|url=https://rchs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Railway-Passenger-Stations-v5.02.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704134712/https://rchs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Railway-Passenger-Stations-v5.02.pdf|archive-date=4 July 2021}}
* {{cite book|author=J.H. Lucking |title=Railways of Dorset: an outline of their establishment, development and progress from 1825  |publisher=[[Railway Correspondence and Travel Society]] |year=1968 | location = Lichfield | oclc = 31916}}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite web| author=Network Rail| work=Business Plan 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206211256/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3102_Route%203%20South%20West%20Main%20Line.pdf| url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3102_Route%203%20South%20West%20Main%20Line.pdf| archive-date=6 February 2012| url-status=dead| title=Route 3 – South West Main Line|ref=none}}
* {{cite web| author=Network Rail| work=Business Plan 2006| url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3110_Route%2012%20Reading%20to%20Penzance.pdf| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926132656/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3110_Route%2012%20Reading%20to%20Penzance.pdf| archive-date=26 September 2006| title=Route 12 – Reading to Penzance|ref=none}}
* {{cite magazine|title=Unlocking the potential to Exeter|first=Howard|last=Johnston|magazine=[[RAIL (magazine)|RAIL]]|issue=329|publisher=EMAP Apex Publications|date=22 April – 5 May 1998|pages=20–24|issn=0953-4563|oclc=49953699}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category inline}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCEY7MTeZ98 I visited every station on the West of England line] – Jen on the Move, via YouTube

{{Railway lines in South East England}}
{{Railway lines in South West England}}

[[Category:Rail transport in Devon]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Dorset]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Somerset]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Wiltshire]]
[[Category:Transport in Exeter]]
[[Category:Railway lines in South East England]]
[[Category:Railway lines in South West England]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in England]]