Rail passengers are warned that a section of the railway between Weymouth and Dorchester will be closed this month.

Maintenance work will be carried out from Sunday, March 17 to Wednesday, March 20.

These works have been described as ‘essential’ and will ‘improve reliability of the railway for customers travelling in and around Dorchester and Weymouth.’

On the Bristol line, Great Western Railway services will start and terminate at Yeovil Pen Mill instead of Weymouth on the Sunday, then from Monday to Wednesday services will start an terminate at Dorchester West.

South Western Railway trains on the Waterloo line will be running to and from Weymouth on the Sunday, but they will terminate and start at Dorchester South from Monday to Wednesday.

Replacement buses will operate between the affected stations - Weymouth to Yeovil on Sunday and Weymouth to Dorchester South from Monday to Wednesday. Passengers for the Bristol line must walk across to Dorchester West.

Replacement buses are also planned to run between Wareham and Bournemouth for SWR services on Sunday due to separate works taking place.

Jordan Welsby, GWR Station Manager for Westbury, Wiltshire and Dorset, said: “This improvement work forms part of an ongoing programme of maintenance, helping to ensure that we can continue to provide consistent and reliable services.

“On Sunday 17 March, GWR will provide rail replacement services between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth – stopping at Dorchester West only or stopping at all stations.

“Importantly, from Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 March, no replacement buses will stop at Dorchester West station, so customers should use Dorchester South instead.

“SWR will be running replacement buses between Dorchester South, Upwey and Weymouth and has agreed to accept GWR customers on its services.

“Replacement buses at Dorchester South pick-up or drop-off in the station forecourt area off Copper Street, a 10 to 15 minutes’ walk from Dorchester West.

“However, these alternative travel arrangements will make journey times longer, so please check before you travel during these dates.”