South Wessex Rail Partnership

The line (formerly known as the Heart of Wessex Line) follows a beautiful 87 mile route through Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Bath and Bristol, with about half of the trains also running through to Gloucester. Our line runs through the old kingdom of the West Saxons, the ancient name of Wessex not heard again for centuries until poet and author Thomas Hardy recreated it as his “dream country”. The line is still a perfect way to go Far from the Madding Crowd, running from Bristol to the World Heritage City of Bath through the southern part of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It then enters the deep, green Avon valley, winding between the river and Kennet & Avon canal and emerging onto the broad Wiltshire plains before reaching the cider orchards and distant honey coloured spires of Somerset. Then it traverses the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, before sweeping over the South Dorset Downs to the World Heritage Jurassic Coast at Weymouth.

The line is ideal for moving around Dorset to explore the various villages it serves – the route map available here links you to a brief guide to each of the line’s destinations with ideas for your visit, plus links to further information to help and inspire you.

Supporters of the SWRP Line enthusiastically describe the line and its route in this video

The timetable and station details are available in the Community Services Section of the Parish Website by clicking here

Last updated 22/08/2022 DIT