Dorset Rail Service to be restored after 41 years.
 

This looks like fantastic news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-21402534

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Great news. Disappointingly they will be using refurbished Diesel units not steam. Presumably as Wareham has no runround facility.

Does anyone understand exactly how this will work? Presumably the Swanage Railway Company now owns most of the line and has spent 30 years hard work re-introducing a train service along part of it. A connection with the main line must always have been the dream but, now that it looks as if it will come true, will Network Rail or a TOC pay the Swanage Railway Company to operate trains over the line?

Hopefully this could happen on lines elsewhere (e.g. Peak Rail?) so I guess the shareholders of those lines will be asking this question too.

Brilliant news and about time support is given to reinstating the valued service to the public. It is a start that really could catch on. So many of our heritage lines could provide a good service and enable the reduction of local traffic on small country lanes etc. so much good can come of this!
Thanks for the link John
Cheers
Phil

Not quite sure who is opperating the service: Swanage railway or a TOC.

Bestw ishes,

John H-T.

Swanage Railway will operate as a TOC in the longer term, short term negotiations will begin with SWT, WCR etc. There is a run round at Wareham to the east of the station, steam running is not to be ruled out, but lets walk before we can run.

Doesn't it just go to show how wrong that B.....d Beeching was! :)