Overview

• From August 11 South Western Railway will run trains between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids every two hours under the 40 mph speed limit.
• Speed restrictions cover a 12-mile section between Gillingham and Axminster after clay embankments shrank during an unprecedented dry spring.
• Hourly services to Yeovil Junction will run as planned but with journey times extended by 25 minutes.
• The predominantly single-track route west of Salisbury leaves few passing points, forcing a reduced timetable for safety.
• SWR and Network Rail have given no end date for the restrictions and warn that further dry weather could prolong the service cuts.