Swanage Railway Wareham service undergoes restoration

Work has stepped up to reinstate a Dorset train service 42 years after it was axed.

Swanage Railway plans to deliver the trial train service on the 10-mile stretch between Swanage, Corfe Castle and Wareham by September 2015.

Frank Roberts, who has been announced as project manager, said "many years of challenging planning is about to pay dividends".

The project has received a £1.47m Coastal Communities government grant.

Trial services are planned for 140 selected days over two years. It is hoped a year-round service will follow.

Swanage Railway Company chairman Peter Sills said the restored service would create 50 jobs.

He added: "The Swanage Railway has been campaigning to bring back regular trains to Wareham since 1972 - when British Rail controversially axed the service.

"Their reintroduction will give an important transport, tourism and employment boost to Purbeck as well as taking more cars off the road between Swanage, Corfe Castle, Wareham, Poole and Bournemouth."