Great Western Coffee Shop

 Currently heading to London on 1L60 and have just departed Gillingham 23 minutes down due to an initial delay east of Axminster (late running GWR divert) and subsequent conflicts. Reinforces my view that this important diversionary route urgently needs to be looked at in terms of redoubling.

Already being dicussed here http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=22446.msg276367#msg276367

Agreed re re-doubling. At the risk of upsetting GW sensitivities, it's surely more than a diversionary route - because it serves places worth stopping at (Andover, Salisbury, Sherborne, Yeovil).

... and Templecombe. :P

Replace GW with BR(W) and you get precisely the reason why west of Salisbury was singled in the first place  >:(

Wouldn't re re-doubling make it four tracks?
 ;D

Exactly. Not invented here.

IIRC Gerry Fiennes, in his terrific autobiography "I Tried to Run a Railway", says that the Salisbury route suffered because the local councils wouldn't fight for it, so BR(W) put its priorities elsewhere. (It's a superb book if you've not read it.)

I doubt full redoubling could ever be affordable, but an extension of some of the current double track sections, Axminster style, and a few extra signals so trains can be better flighted behind each other should be considered IMHO.

P103 of his book has the detail (see attached photo).
Surely there are some fixes that would not be difficult to make. Extending the loop at Tisbury to the station, likewise at Templecombe. This would allow trains to carry out the station stops while waiting for another to pass.
Further improvements need an analysis of where the best crossing points need to be. Data from this week’s service might help in this. Do we need an extended loop at Chard towards Crewkerne? Recent building work in the ex-down goods yard plus the 1990s platform widening means that doubling the track through Crewkerne station itself is not an option.
A previous Wessex RUS went into this and is available somewhere online.

That won't be easy to do since the land for the second platform was sold and I have heard that the sale included a covenant stating that a Compulsory Purchase Order would never be used to reacquire the land.

Won't be easy at Templecombe either. Whilst the south side (former down) platform face extension fitted in 2013 could be removed (built such to allow that) you'd need much work done to bring the former platform up to modern standards. What's left is very narrow and car park space would have to be sacrificed. The relatively new ticket office may need moving back too. Add to that the need for access to the upside if double track was reinstated. That realistically means a new footbridge with lifts.

The line between Exeter Central and Yeovil Junction needs to be two track all the way between. Two track between Yeovil Junction to Castle Cary should also be considered. The difficulties between Yeovil Junction to Salisbury of two tracks are probably insurmountable at present.   

One issue between Exeter and Yeovil Junction is the M5 bridge which was only built for a single track.

I hereby support this new campaign, and wish it every success!

Interesting analysis here https://www.railfuture.org.uk/display1587 (https://www.railfuture.org.uk/display1587)

We could certainly done with more double track today. I travelled from Trowbridge today on the 1631 waterloo service which was held at Salisbury for 45 minutes waiting the arrival of the Exeter portion. This had been held for 20+ minutes at Pinhoe waiting for a down service. It was then further held for 10 minutes at Tisbury loop for another late running down service. To cap the day off the service was terminated at Basingstoke because of signalling problems in th Vauxhall area. My arrival at Waterloo was 45mins late. All WofE services seemed to be running late today with little chance of recovery because of the very limited passing places.

Edit 17/11 - Delay repay claim now submitted

New member  - SERUG Salisbury to Exeter Rail Users Group,  so yes please two track, if you have some spare money!!
We have been working with Network Rail on their Continuous Modular Strategic Planning (pre GRIP) group to research and identify where the track doubling should be actually situated.  Maybe Dinton to Tisbury, and Whimple for starters, the latter allowing Devon Metro to operate (GWR service Barnstable to Honiton max).

It took over 20 years for the Axminster doubling and platform to be delivered, so we work with a healthy amount of cynicism, but much energy to find a way of double tracking where affordable and necessary, and funding of course by HMG and the Treasury.
  Our web site www.serug.co.uk has it all!

Welcome ... delighted to see how the line has come forward so much since the low point.  Never thought we would be looking at it coming back up to an hourly service, extra loops, and still wondering how more trains can be fitted. I look forward to the day we're discussing how the final three little bits at Tisbury, Templecombe and the M5 can be redoubled.

A warm welcome from me, too! We look forward to hearing of great progress.

Possible outcomes from the Wessex Route Study Final (21st August 2015)

All in here, from p112: https://cdn.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Wessex-Route-Study-Final-210815-1-1.pdf