Trains to Gillingham (Dorset)
The origins of Gillingham (Dorset) have been traced back as far as the stone age, although the town itself was first truly established by the Saxons. Surrounded by countryside and not far from Cranborne Chase a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), you can immerse yourself in the world that John Constable would have seen in the 1820s. His painting of the old town bridge now hangs proudly in the Tate Gallery.
With the arrival of the railway to the region in the 1850s, Gillingham grew rapidly both in size and industry with a wide range of new industries springing up including a bacon factory, printing presses, soap manufacturing, petrol engines, brickworks and a dairy depot which sent cheese, butter and milk fresh to London several times a day. To this day, cheese production continues in the local area.
Nowadays, Gillingham is known for its position in the Blackmore Vale - location of the River Stour and inspiration behind some of Thomas Hardy's novels - and for hosting the Gillingham & Shaftesbury agricultural show every August. Whilst in the nearby town of Shaftesbury, the annual Shaftesbury Festival of Food and Drink takes place in early May. One of the many highlights being the Gold Hill Cheese Run.
With the station close to the town centre and blessed with good transport links to Exeter, Salisbury and London Gillingham (Dorset) is an important hub for services and shopping. Local attractions are numerous and include Longleat, Old Wardour Castle, and Stourhead House.
Popular routes by train include:
Station details & facilities
Ticket office
Luggage
Facilities
Toilets
WiFi
Staffing and customer service
Parking
Bicycle Facilities
Accessibility
First Class Lounge
Gillingham railway station opened on 2 May 1859 when the line from Salisbury opened, connecting the town to the London Waterloo to Exeter line. Not to be confused with Gillingham in Kent, Gillingham in Dorset carries the county's name immediately after it in brackets. The station today is managed by South Western Railway.
The main entrance to Gillingham station is on Station Road where you'll also find the ticket office, pay-and-display car park, taxi rank, and stop for local bus services. Level access to platform 1 is through gates to the side of the ticket office. Covered cycle racks are located on platform 1. There is a non-level entrance to platform 2 from Brickyard Lane. Access between the platforms is via stairs and a footbridge.
Departures and arrivals from Gillingham (Dorset)
Departures
Arrivals
| Departing to | Train | Time | Platform | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| to Andover | South Western Railway | 06:53 | Scheduled | |
| to Exeter St David's | South Western Railway | 07:18 | 1 | Scheduled |
| to Andover | South Western Railway | 07:57 | Scheduled | |
| to Salisbury | South Western Railway | 08:57 | Scheduled | |
| to Exeter St David's | South Western Railway | 09:17 | 1 | Scheduled |
| Arriving from | Train | Time | Platform | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| from London Waterloo | South Western Railway | 23:19 | 1 | On time |
| from Yeovil Junction | South Western Railway | 06:53 | Scheduled | |
| from Salisbury | South Western Railway | 07:10 | Scheduled | |
| from Yeovil Junction | South Western Railway | 07:50 | 1 | Scheduled |
| from Yeovil Junction | South Western Railway | 08:50 | 1 | Scheduled |