Place Wareham Managed by South West Trains 2011/12 0.358 million Opened 1887 | Grid reference SY919881 DfT category D 2012/13 0.351 million Number of platforms 2 Station code WRM | |
 | ||
Address Wareham BH20 4AS, United Kingdom Similar Hamworthy railway station, Holton Heath railway st, Branksome railway station, Wool railway station, Moreton (Dorset) railway st | ||
Wareham railway station
Wareham railway station serves the town of Wareham in Dorset, England. It is situated about 0.6 miles (1 km) north of the town centre.
Contents
History
The current station opened in 1887 replacing the original which opened in 1847 and was sited east of what is now only a pedestrian crossing. This station had two bay platforms which served the branch line to Swanage from 1885 until 1972, when the branch closed.
The branch line to Swanage is now the preserved Swanage Railway, a steam locomotive operated heritage railway that currently operates between Swanage and a Park and Ride site at Norden just north of Corfe Castle.
The rail connection between the Swanage Railway and the Network Rail tracks at Worgret Junction has been restored, and there are plans to extend the Swanage Railway back into Wareham station on a regular basis, thus restoring a connection with the National Rail network.
Services
Wareham station is served by two South West Trains services an hour from London Waterloo to Weymouth, usually a Class 444 express Desiro unit or Class 450 outer suburban Desiro unit. Prior to 9 December 2007 it was the terminus for an hourly local service from Brockenhurst but this has now been partially replaced by the additional Weymouth service.
Until 1967, trains through the station were normally steam hauled. Class 205 (2H) diesel electric multiple units were used during the final years' of British Rail operations on the Swanage branch. Between 1967 and 1988, passenger services on the London-Weymouth line were normally provided by Class 33/1 diesel locomotives with Class 438 coaching stock (also known as 4-TC units). The line was electrified in 1988, using the standard British Rail Southern Region direct current third rail at 750 volts. Class 442 electric multiple units were initially used following electrification, until being displaced by new Class 444 electric multiple units in 2007.
Heritage
Although track is now complete through from Worgret Junction to the Swanage Railway, the normal service on the Swanage Railway still currently terminates at Norden station near Corfe Castle.
However special services occasionally work between Wareham and the Swanage Railway. The Swanage Railway have ultimate plans to have their regular services extended to and terminate at Wareham, allowing interchange with services on the main line.
However, Swanage Railway trains cannot call at Wareham until works to replace and upgrade the signalling system between Weymouth and Poole are completed. A £1.47 million grant from the Coastal Communities Fund will pay to upgrade track and bridges and two 1960s heritage diesel trains to mainline running standards. Trial services were planned for 50 days in 2015 and 90 days in 2016 (this timeframe has since been pushed back until 2017-18). It is hoped a year-round service will follow.