The third West Dorset Western Area Transport Action Group (WATAG) news is out.

The group shows its support for sustainable transport ideas, including trams operating between Maiden Newton and Bridport, gives top tips on saving money on train fare and gives updates on service changes due to the pandemic.

WATAG has given its support to the Bridport Renewal Corridor. This idea looks at sustainable transport in the area between West Bay and Maiden Newton, via Bridport and Powerstock. The goal is that this will eb easily accessible by narrow gauge train, by cycle and on foot.

For more information, visit bridportrenewal.org.uk.

A train fare increase of 2.6 per cent comes into effect on march 1, 2021, so WATAG thought it a good time to highlight some ways passengers can save money. These include booking in advance, travelling off-peak, getting a railcard, subscribing to railway company newsletters, booking through the train operator's website to avoid paying a booking fee and split ticketing.

First Wessex's X51/X53 services from Dorchester to Axminster and Weymouth to Axminster continues to run Mondays to Saturdays, while the X53 Sunday service between Weymouth and Axminster also continues.

The operator's 6/6B route in conjunction with Buses of Somerset continues to operate Mondays to Fridays.

Dorset Community Transport continues to offer PlusBus services and the Bridport town service 7 as well as Thursday only services: 14 - Bridsmoorgate, Thorncombe, Chard - and 688 - Thorncombe, Axminster - during this time.

Beaminster Town Council has suspended its Saturday only CB3 service linking Crewkerne, Beaminster and Bridport due to the lockdown.

The latest newsletter can be found here.