The Salisbury and Yeovil Railway (S&YR) opened the second part of its line on 7 May 1860, extending westwards from Gillingham through Templecombe to Sherborne. The S&YR never operated any trains, which were provided by the London and South Western Railway (LSWR). On 3 February 1862, the Dorset Central Railway opened its own Templecombe Lower station as the terminus of a line which connected with the Somerset Central Railway's line from Burnham-on-Sea; on 31 August 1863 this was extended beneath the S&YR line to join up with the remainder of that Dorset company's line to Bournemouth.