Rail passengers travelling between Dorset and Devon are facing longer journey times and a reduced timetable after prolonged dry weather destabilised sections of track along the West of England Line. South Western Railway (SWR) has confirmed that emergency speed restrictions have been introduced between London Waterloo and Exeter, as a result of embankments shrinking due to drought conditions.
The restrictions follow what the Met Office described as the sunniest spring in more than a century and the second driest in England since 1976. The lack of rainfall has caused soil embankments to contract and shift, especially along a 12-mile stretch between Gillingham and Axminster, where structural ground movement has been detected beneath the tracks.
As a safety precaution, trains on the affected sections have been limited to 40mph—less than half the usual 85mph—causing delays of up to an hour. With the line being single track in places, the restrictions have forced SWR to reduce the number of services running through the area.
“We are very sorry for the disruption that customers will experience due to this change,” said Stuart Meek, SWR’s Chief Operating Officer. “We know just how important the West of England Line is to the communities it serves. But to continue operating a safe and reliable service, we have no alternative but to introduce a reduced timetable.”
Network Rail, which oversees the UK’s rail infrastructure, said the restrictions will remain in place until the embankments stabilise. “The safety of our customers is our number one priority, which is why we must impose these speed restrictions,” said Tom Desmond, Operations Director at Network Rail. “We will regularly review the conditions in order to restore the normal timetable as soon as possible.”
The disruption highlights growing concerns over the vulnerability of UK transport infrastructure to climate change. In recent years, extreme heat, drought, and heavy rainfall have repeatedly forced speed limits, service reductions, and emergency engineering work across the rail network.
In response, Network Rail has pledged nearly £3 billion in investment between 2024 and 2029 to better manage climate-related risks. Planned upgrades include reinforcing embankments and improving drainage systems to withstand more frequent and severe weather events.
The measures build on earlier reforms introduced after the fatal Stonehaven derailment in 2020, which exposed the dangers of landslips during extreme conditions. As weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable, rail operators face mounting pressure to prioritise long-term climate resilience and protect vital transport links.
