More Trains Illustrated from 1959.
THE Somerset & Dorset Line, we remarked in last month's comment on the B.T.C.'s Re-appraisal of the Modernisation Plan, does not figure in any of the immediate proposals for C.T.C. operation on B.R. Doubts are therefore revived as to its future and a correspondent in the West Country, Mr. R. A. Newport, reports local belief that the Western Region, having taken over the northern half of the line, feels it should be closed, together with the connection from Mangotsfield to Bath (Green Park). Our correspondent understands that the S.R. has no wish to be left with a dead-end branch from Bournemouth to Templecombe and that the L.M.R. views with alarm the possibility of having to drive new paths through a congested timetable for its through summer traffic to and from Bournemouth. The position seems to be, therefore, that the line will survive until the projected introduction of diesel multiple-units, in the hope that they will improve the economics of its operation.