Dorchester South
National Rail
Dorchester South railway station in July 2005
General information
LocationDorchester, Dorset
England
Coordinates50°42′32″N 2°26′13″W / 50.709°N 2.437°W / 50.709; -2.437
Grid referenceSY692900
Managed bySouth Western Railway
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeDCH
ClassificationDfT category D
History
Original companySouthampton and Dorchester Railway
Pre-groupingLondon and South Western Railway
Post-groupingSouthern Railway
Key dates
1 June 1847 (1847-06-01)Terminus opened as Dorchester
1878Westbound through platform opened
26 September 1949Renamed Dorchester South
1970Eastbound through platform opened
Passengers
2018/19Decrease 0.421 million
 Interchange Decrease 415
2019/20Increase 0.451 million
 Interchange Decrease 384
2020/21Decrease 0.107 million
 Interchange Decrease 111
2021/22Increase 0.323 million
 Interchange Increase 343
2022/23Increase 0.396 million
 Interchange Increase 405
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Dorchester South railway station is one of two stations serving the town of Dorchester in Dorset, England, the other one being Dorchester West. The station is on the South West Main Line. It is 135 miles 70 chains (218.7 km) down the line from London Waterloo[note 1] and is situated between Moreton and Upwey. The station is managed by South Western Railway, who operate all trains serving it.

History

A 1937 Ordnance Survey showing the location of Dorchester South and Dorchester West

The station opened on 1 June 1847 when the Southampton and Dorchester Railway was completed.[1][2] The station was built as an east facing terminus with the intent of continuing the line westwards towards Exeter.[3] These plans were never realised, and instead another line was built from the terminus towards Weymouth. This joined with the Great Western Railway's line (now the Heart of Wessex Line) from Dorchester West and continued as a joint line to Weymouth.

Originally named Dorchester, the station was renamed Dorchester South on 26 September 1949.[1] The station remained a terminus with trains from Bournemouth having to enter the station, reverse out back the way they came then reverse again and proceed to Weymouth. Trains from Weymouth had to pass the station, then reverse into it, and then back out.[3] This process often caused delays and brought criticism following an accident in 1877. As a result, a curved platform was provided for southbound trains; this was brought into use during 1878.[4] Eastbound trains still reversed into the original platform until 1970 when a platform was built on the curve. The buildings on the trackless original platform remained in use until 1989. As part of the modernisation work preparatory to electrification a new booking hall was built on the curved platform, replacing the building on the original platform which was then demolished.

Stationmasters

  • W. Mears ca. 1873 - 1881
  • J.C. Holiday 1881[5] - 1893 (formerly station master at Ringwood)
  • H.J. Smith 1893[6] - 1898
  • George Hart 1898[7] - 1907 (formerly station master at Wimborne)
  • A. Pearce 1908 - 1909 (formerly station master at Tavistock, afterwards station master of Bournemouth West)
  • Charles William Eve 1909 - 1911[8] (afterwards station master at Bournemouth West)
  • S.H. Smith 1911 - 1923[9] (formerly station master at Wimborne)
  • William John Liley 1923[10] - 1928 (formerly station master at Brockenhurst)
  • Percival George Collins 1928 - 1930[11] (afterwards station master at Eastbourne)
  • H.M. Wood 1930 - 1942[12] (from 1932 also station master of Dorchester West)
  • John Charles Leach 1942 - 1945 (also in charge of Dorchester West)
  • S.A. Smith from 1945 (formerly station master at Winchester and Shawford, also in charge of Dorchester West)

Motive power depot

The Southampton and Dorchester Railway constructed a motive power depot at the station in 1847 together with a coal stage and turntable. This closed in 1957 and was demolished soon afterwards.[13]

Modernisation

During late 2010/early 2011, CCTV monitor podiums were installed on platform 1 (similar to those used on the London Underground) so as to allow the guards of each London-bound train to have easier visuals of the platforms (because platform 1 has a tight curve, and makes it difficult to see the length of the platform whilst a train is in the vicinity of the station). New entrances have also been constructed from the southern end of platform 1 to the adjacent car park, as well as new waiting shelters built near the new entrance and on the site of the former brick hut on platform 2.

Services

A Class 442 train from London Waterloo at Dorchester South in 2006

All services at Dorchester South are operated by South Western Railway.

On weekdays and Saturdays, the station is served by two trains per hour between London Waterloo and Weymouth.[14]

One of these is a stopping service calling at most stops northbound to Winchester, then Basingstoke, Clapham Junction and London Waterloo. Southbound this service calls at Upwey and Weymouth.

The second is a semi-fast service calling at principal stations only northbound to Winchester, then Woking and London Waterloo. Southbound, this service runs non-stop to Weymouth.

On Sundays, the service is reduced to hourly in each direction.

A less frequent service is also available from the nearby Dorchester West station, which is served by Great Western Railway, with trains heading towards Westbury, Bristol Temple Meads and Gloucester.

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Moreton or Wareham   South Western Railway
   Upwey or Weymouth

Notes

  1. ↑ Railways in the United Kingdom historically are measured in miles and chains. There are 80 chains to one mile.

References

References

  1. 1 2 Butt 1995, p. 81.
  2. ↑ Williams 1968, p. 62.
  3. 1 2 Williams 1968, p. 65.
  4. ↑ Williams 1973, p. 184.
  5. ↑ "Ringwood". Hampshire Independent. England. 18 May 1881. Retrieved 19 June 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ↑ "Railway Changes". Hampshire Advertiser. England. 25 March 1893. Retrieved 19 June 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ↑ "Railway Appointment". Southern Times and Dorset County Herald. England. 19 November 1898. Retrieved 19 June 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ↑ "Mr. C.W. Eve to go to Eastleigh". Bournemouth Guardian. England. 7 August 1915. Retrieved 19 June 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ↑ "Stationmaster's Retirement". Western Gazette. England. 5 January 1923. Retrieved 19 June 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ↑ "Brockenhurst. Stationmaster's Promotion". Hampshire Advertiser. England. 6 January 1923. Retrieved 19 June 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ↑ "New Stationmaster". Eastbourne Chronicle. England. 28 June 1930. Retrieved 19 June 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ↑ "Stationmaster Retiring". Western Gazette. England. 9 October 1942. Retrieved 19 June 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ↑ Hawkins & Reeve 1979, pp. 24–25.
  14. ↑ Table 158 National Rail timetable, May 2022

Sources

  • Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-85260-508-1.
  • Hawkins, Chris; Reeve, George (1979). An Historical Survey of Southern Sheds. Headington: Oxford Publishing Co. ISBN 0-86093-020-3.
  • J.H. Lucking (1968). Railways of Dorset. Railway Correspondence and Travel Society.
  • Williams, R.A. (1968). The London & South Western Railway, volume 1: The Formative Years. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-4188-X.
  • Williams, R.A. (1973). The London & South Western Railway, volume 2: Growth and Consolidation. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5940-1.
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