HEAT-damaged railway embankments have forced South Western Railway to introduce a temporary timetable, causing travel disruption in Somerset.
Services between Tisbury and Honiton, including stops at Yeovil Junction, will be affected, with trains running at reduced speeds due to stability concerns on the clay embankments.
The changes came into effect on Monday, August 10 of this year.
Councillor Oliver Patrick, Lib Dem Councillor for Coker Division, said: "Trains between London Waterloo and Salisbury will continue to run every 30 minutes.
"One train per hour will run between London Waterloo and Yeovil Junction.
"Every other hour, services will continue through to Exeter St Davids."
The disruption is the result of prolonged hot and dry weather, which has damaged the clay embankments that support the railway line.
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SWR and Network Rail Wessex have been monitoring more than 30 sites along the route since last year and have carried out tamping work, installed 5,000 tonnes of new ballast, and removed more than 200 dead and diseased trees.
Journeys to and from Yeovil Junction are expected to take longer, while those travelling to Exeter could face delays of up to 25–30 minutes.
Passengers are advised to check their journeys before setting off and allow extra time for travel.
The impact on rail services mirrors recent issues with other infrastructure, such as the A30 resurfacing project, which failed during the May heatwave.
Cllr Oliver Patrick said: "Climate change and extreme weather is affecting the way our infrastructure is managed.
"If you’re travelling after 10 August, I’d recommend checking your journey before you set off and allowing a little extra time."
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