GWR Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth - what a joke...

[randyrippley]

What is needed is a chord east of Dorchester south and Dorchester west. That will open routes to bristol - Bournemouth. Bournemouth - to the southwest when the chord is built at Yeovil Pen Mill.

are you sure you've got the correct Yeovil station?

 

[randyrippley]

All very good in theory but have you looked at the map? You are either talking about some pretty expensive demolitions and highway work close to the centre of Dorchester (and probably moving Dorchester South) or several miles of new line missing Dorchester altogether!

You could put a chord through Maumbury Rings without too much demolition work

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maumbury_Rings

 

[DerekC]

You could put a chord through Maumbury Rings without too much demolition work

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maumbury_Rings

Well, the Victorians could probably have done it because they didn't have to worry about planning and heritage and stuff, but I somehow doubt it would get very far today. The good citizens of Dorchester might well not like the flange noise on the sharp curve, as well as having to lose one of their parks!