Minister backs new train service

The passenger train travelled from Wareham, to Corfe Castle and Swanage.

A minister has backed plans for a train service, which recently completed a journey for the first time in 37 years, to be re-introduced permanently.

On 1 April the Purbeck Pioneer departed from London's Victoria Station at 0845 BST and arrived just after 1400 BST at Swanage Railway Station in Dorset.

It ran on the historic line - shut in 1972 and restored by enthusiasts - from Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage.

Transport Minister Lord Adonis said the proposal was "highly credible".

'Excellent public service'

Speaking after a recent whistlestop visit to the historic railway line, he said: "The key issue is the re-signalling and whether it is going to be possible.

"I have undertaken to host a meeting with all parties once detailed costings have been obtained to see if we can fund the work so that re-signalling can take place."

Lord Adonis described the railway as "an excellent public service"

Lord Adonis added that he was keen to see whether the possibility of the railway being linked to the national railway network, allowing a permanent train service to be run from Wareham, could be explored.

He also described the railway as "an excellent public service highly appreciated by the community".

After it was closed on 1 January 1972, British Rail lifted seven miles of track south of Furzebrook that summer.

Campaigners from the Swanage Railway Trust fought for the line to be rebuilt and watched it grow mile by mile over the years.

They have been running trains on parts of their preserved line for some years but the first complete through service was run on 1 April.

The 12 carriages are made up of Mark One stock dating from the British Railways steam days of the 1950s powered by a DB Schenker Class 66 diesel locomotive.

Swanage Railway chairman Mike Whitwam said: "The visit by Lord Adonis was very positive."