Passengers travelling from Andover to Exeter St Davids are being advised to expect disruption, as South Western Railway (SWR) is introducing a reduced timetable on the West of England main line due to safety concerns caused by shrinking soil beneath the tracks.
From Monday 11 August, services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids—which includes stops at Andover and Salisbury—will run every two hours rather than hourly. The changes are in place until further notice and will mean longer journey times for those travelling westbound from the town.
Trains between Andover and Yeovil Junction are also affected, with each journey extended by around 25 minutes, while passengers heading towards Exeter can expect journeys to take up to an hour longer than usual.
The disruption is a result of what’s known as “soil moisture deficit”—a condition where clay soil shrinks during long periods of dry weather. This has led to track movement and speed restrictions over a 12-mile section between Gillingham (Dorset) and Axminster (Devon).
A spokesperson for SWR explained that due to the single-track nature of much of the route west of Salisbury, trains cannot pass one another as frequently under the current speed limits, making it impossible to sustain the usual timetable.
As part of the changes, services will now resume stopping at Crewkerne every two hours, after previously being served by replacement buses.
Journey planners will be updated by Monday 4 August, and passengers in Andover are urged to check travel times in advance and allow for additional time when travelling towards the South West.
Summary for Andover Travellers:
| Route | Change | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Andover ⇄ Exeter St Davids | Trains every 2 hours | Up to 1 hour longer journey |
| Andover ⇄ Yeovil Junction | Trains hourly | ~25 minutes longer journey |
Passengers can find updated schedules and more information on the South Western Railway website.
