Dorchester South railway station

File:Dorchestermap 1937 (1).jpg showing the location of Dorchester South and Dorchester West]]

The station opened on 1 June 1847 when the Southampton and Dorchester Railway was completed.{{sfn|Butt|1995|p=81}}{{sfn|Williams|1968|p=62}} The station was built as an east facing terminus with the intent of continuing the line westwards towards Exeter.{{sfn|Williams|1968|p=65}} 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.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}

Originally named Dorchester, the station was renamed Dorchester South on 26 September 1949.{{sfn|Butt|1995|p=81}} 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.{{sfn|Williams|1968|p=65}} 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.{{sfn|Williams|1973|p=184}} 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.

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• W. Mears ca. 1873 – 1881
• J.C. Holiday 1881{{cite news |author= |title=Ringwood | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002941/18810518/031/0004 |newspaper=Hampshire Independent |location=England |date=18 May 1881 |access-date=19 June 2021 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} – 1893 (formerly station master at Ringwood)
• H.J. Smith 1893{{cite news |author= |title=Railway Changes | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000495/18930325/185/0007 |newspaper=Hampshire Advertiser |location=England |date=25 March 1893 |access-date=19 June 2021 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} – 1898
• George Hart 1898{{cite news |author= |title=Railway Appointment | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002183/18981119/071/0006 |newspaper=Southern Times and Dorset County Herald |location=England |date=19 November 1898 |access-date=19 June 2021 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} – 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{{cite news |author= |title=Mr. C.W. Eve to go to Eastleigh | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002177/19150807/093/0008 |newspaper=Bournemouth Guardian |location=England |date=7 August 1915 |access-date=19 June 2021 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} (afterwards station master at Bournemouth West)
• S.H. Smith 1911 – 1923{{cite news |author= |title=Stationmaster's Retirement | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000407/19230105/002/0002 |newspaper=Western Gazette |location=England |date=5 January 1923 |access-date=19 June 2021 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} (formerly station master at Wimborne)
• William John Liley 1923{{cite news |author= |title=Brockenhurst. Stationmaster's Promotion. | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000495/19230106/228/0009 |newspaper=Hampshire Advertiser |location=England |date=6 January 1923 |access-date=19 June 2021 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} – 1928 (formerly station master at Brockenhurst)
• Percival George Collins 1928 – 1930{{cite news |author= |title=New Stationmaster. | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003202/19300628/044/0003 |newspaper=Eastbourne Chronicle |location=England |date=28 June 1930 |access-date=19 June 2021 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} (afterwards station master at Eastbourne)
• H.M. Wood 1930 – 1942{{cite news |author= |title=Stationmaster Retiring | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000407/19421009/003/0003 |newspaper=Western Gazette |location=England |date=9 October 1942 |access-date=19 June 2021 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} (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)

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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.{{sfn|Hawkins|Reeve|1979|pp=24–25}}

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.

Image:DorchS3.jpg

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 {{stn|London Waterloo}} and {{stnlnk|Weymouth}}.{{NRtimes|May 2022|158}}

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

The second is a semi-fast service calling at principal stations only northbound to Winchester, then {{stnlnk|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.

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{{rail line|next=Upwey or {{stnlnk|Weymouth}}|previous=Moreton or {{stnlnk|Wareham}}|route=South Western Railway
{{smalldiv|South West Main Line}}|col={{SWR colour}} }}

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{{reflist|group=note}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|first=R.V.J. |last=Butt |title= The Directory of Railway Stations |publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd |year=1995 |isbn=1-85260-508-1}}
• {{cite book|last1=Hawkins |first1=Chris |last2=Reeve |first2=George |title=An Historical Survey of Southern Sheds |year=1979 |publisher=Oxford Publishing Co |location=Headington |isbn=0-86093-020-3}}
• {{cite book|author=J.H. Lucking |title=Railways of Dorset |publisher=Railway Correspondence and Travel Society |year=1968}}
• {{cite book|last=Williams |first=R.A. |title=The London & South Western Railway, volume 1: The Formative Years |year=1968 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=0-7153-4188-X}}
• {{cite book|last=Williams |first=R.A. |title=The London & South Western Railway, volume 2: Growth and Consolidation |year=1973 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=0-7153-5940-1}}

{{Commons category|Dorchester South railway station}}

{{stn art lrnk|DCH|DT11QX}}

{{Dorset railway stations}}

South

Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1847

Category:Former London and South Western Railway stations

Category:Railway stations served by South Western Railway

Category:1847 establishments in England

Category:DfT Category D stations