Extra buses and longer trains will operate to and from Weymouth during the Olympics from 27 July to 12 August.
South-West Trains to and from Southampton and London will run longer trains on many services.  First Great Western from Bath and Bristol will also operate longer trains.  It is also understood that some Arriva Cross-Country trains from the Midlands will be extended from Bournemouth to Weymouth.

Bus services will also be enhanced.  The X53 bus between Poole, Weymouth and Exeter will run hourly, instead of two-hourly.  The X43 will run two-hourly from Swanage and Wareham.  The route 1 between Weymouth and Portland will run every few minutes with double-deck buses in place of single-deckers.

If travelling by car is your only option you will need to book a space in one of the park and ride sites via the website:
http://www.firstgroupgamestravel.com/park-and-ride.
PLEASE NOTE: Private cars will be banned from Weymouth during the period of the Olympics unless the driver is in possession of a special pass.  Public transport is definitely the best option for visiting the town.

Arriva Cross-Country will be running trains into Weymouth from the Midlands and North during the period of the Olympic Sailing Events.  Normally Cross-Country Trains only run as far as Bournemouth but two or three each day will be extended to and from Weymouth.

In addition First Great Western Trains from Bristol to Weymouth will be putting on longer trains to cater for the extra passengers wishing to travel to and from Weymouth daily.

South-West Trains between London Waterloo and Weymouth already operate twice an hour so are unlikely to run extra services but peak trains may have extra carriages.

More steam-hauled charter trains will operate this year into and from Dorset than ever before.

The Dorset Coast Express from London to Bournemouth and Weymouth will run on July 5, 12, 19 and 26, then August 14, 15, 21 and 28, and September 13, 20 and 27.

The Weymouth Seaside Express from Bristol to Weymouth will run on July 1, 8, 15 and 22, then August 19 and 26, then September 16 and 23.   The gaps preventing a weekly service are due to the Olympic sailing events in Weymouth.

There will also be steam-hauled special trains to Swanage on April 19 (from Banbury and Oxford), June 14, 15 and 21 (from London) , September 13 and October 11 (also from London).  The trains on 15 June and 13 September will be extra special as they will be the all-Pullman Orient Express.

There will also be a steam-hauled special (The Royal Wessex) from Sussex to Bournemouth, Wareham and Weymouth on 30 June.

In the opposite direction there will be steam-hauled special trains (Bath Spa Express) from Poole and Bournemouth to Bath on Wednesdays April 18, May 16, June 20, August 15, September 5, October 3, November 28, December 5.
This year for the first time there will also be steam-hauled special trains from Poole and Bournemouth to Oxford (May 2 and September 19) and to Windsor (June 6 and August 22)

The trains will bring a variety of locomotives to Dorset.  It is provisionally planned that the train from Banbury to Swanage on April 19 will be hauled by "Princess Elizabeth", a very appropriate choice in the Queen's Jubilee Year.)

A diesel shuttle between Norden Park & Ride and Corfe Castle will operate on Saturdays and Sundays from 7 Jan to end of Feb. The fare will be just £1 single per adult and children travel free. There is a £2 parking charge at Norden.

Normally the railway does not operate at that time, but the service will run this year to assess demand.  

Check the Swanage Railway website for the timetable.

The prestige Pullman train will make two visits to Swanage in 2012, on 15 June and 13 September.  It will travel down the preserved Swanage Railway line for the last part of its journey into the seaside resort.  Passengers will pay almost £400 for their day trip, which includes a 5-course dinner with champagne.  They must wear smart clothing; jeans and trainers are banned!
The train will be welcomed by local businesses, bringing much-needed income from its passengers.

There are plans to fill in the gaps between the rails along the quays.  Dorset County Council wants to make the road safer for cyclists by filling the gaps with a sand and tar mix that could be removed if the tracks were operational again in the future.  There have been several accidents caused by the tracks over the years, and cyclists and motor-cyclists are particularly vulnerable.

The Harbour Tramway, also known as the Quay Branch, was opened by the Great Western Railway in 1865. Passenger and freight trains used the branch to access the steamers from Weymouth to the Channel Islands and France.  Ferries docked alongside the harbour station. The trains travelled at walking pace preceeded by an official with a red flag.  Some of the locomotives were fitted with a bell.  GWR pannier tanks saw regular use.

Regular freight trains ceased in 1972 and passenger trains in 1987.  Several special railtours ran over the branch, the last-known being in May 1999.  There have been several proposals to run a tram or light train over the line, but nothing has materialized.  The tracks are owned by Network Rail.

Good to see the improvements being made to the station, especially the refurbished toilets. It's a pity nothing is being done to platform 1 which has no canopy or shelter to protect passengers from the rain.  The main booking-hall/waiting area is also extremely small.  Hope the litter on the tracks will get collected more often.  It's usually a disgrace by the buffer stop on platform 1, but station staff are not permitted on the track.

This is a new website to help customers get problems fixed on public transport.  If you have an issue with a bus, bus stop, train, station etc, this site will help you get you grievance to the body responsible. Equally, if you are pleased with the performance of a local bus, train, ferry etc. your praise can be publicised. The website address is FixMyTransport.com

The A4 locomotive 4492 Dominion of New Zealand has been confirmed as one of the star attractions at the annual Swanage Railway Steam Gala. Also attending will be the N2 locomotive 1744 which featured in the original film of The Railway Children".  All the resident Swanage Railway locomotives will also take part, so a total of 7 steam locomotives will thrill visitors to this annual spectacular. At the same event there will be a display of vintage and classic cars, motor cycles and tractors close to Harmans Cross station on the Swanage Railway.
Full details.

The iconic steam locomotive "Tornado" 60163 will haul a special train from London to Weymouth on Carnival Day on Wednesday 17 August.  "The Cathedrals Express" train is due to arrive in Weymouth at 13.44. The Weymouth Carnival and Air Show will feature several spectacular shows in the sky, including The Red Arrows, The Red Devils and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.  Travel to Weymouth by train or use the excellent new Park and Ride off the A354, where you can park all day for just £3.50, and the bus ride into town is free.  The Park and Ride will stay open late on Carnival Day with last bus from Weymouth Pavilion, after the Fireworks display, at 10.30pm.