Travel Expert Urges Passengers to Rearrange Plans
Travel expert Simon Calder has issued a stark warning for anyone planning to travel by train this week, as the UK heatwave causes significant disruption. Appearing on Good Morning Britain on June 23, Calder implored viewers to rearrange their travel plans and, where possible, switch to an alternative date given the intense heat forecast over the coming days. According to the Met Office, temperatures could reach 40°C in parts of the UK, with a red extreme heat warning in place. Britain is facing what could be its hottest June since 1976.
Calder said: "My advice to anyone booked to travel by rail over the next few days is, please, if you can, move your journey to the end of the week, then do so. It will be much more comfortable and have a higher degree of actually working as it is supposed to. Otherwise, I'm afraid, just be prepared for delays and disruption."
Heat-Related Disruptions and Passenger Advice
The rail industry is bracing for disruptions stemming from extreme heat, including sagging overhead power lines, buckled tracks, and trackside fires. Passengers are advised to set off earlier in the day where possible and to carry a water bottle. Online journey planners may not reflect accurate timetables until the day of travel, owing to last-minute cancellations.
Refund Rights for Delayed or Cancelled Trains
According to Citizens Advice, if your train is cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund should you be unable to board the next service or decide against travelling. If you experience a delay and arrive at your destination more than 30 minutes late, you can generally claim a partial reimbursement. Certain train operators may even provide compensation if your service is delayed by more than 15 minutes. Be sure to hold on to your train tickets to submit a refund request. It is advisable to lodge your claim within 28 days, though some operators may permit a lengthier timeframe. For those who travelled with Transport for London (TfL), such as on the London Underground, you can visit its website to find out how much you may be entitled to and how to make a claim.
Operator Responses and Service Reductions
Avanti West Coast announced plans to operate reduced services between Tuesday and Thursday, warning that "there's a risk of further disruption." The operator relaxed its ticketing restrictions, allowing passengers to board an earlier train than originally booked at no additional charge. Those holding tickets for departures between Tuesday and Thursday are entitled to a full refund should they wish to cancel their travel plans.
Chiltern Railways has scrapped more than half its services across those three days "to ensure the safe operation of the railway." The cancellations affect London Marylebone routes to and from Birmingham, Oxford and Aylesbury via Amersham. The operator said: "We strongly advise you to avoid travelling if possible. Trains are running at greatly reduced levels to ensure everyone's safety, which means you may experience significant delays and very busy conditions."
Great Western Railway urged passengers to use its services solely for "essential travel" on Wednesday and Thursday, coinciding with the severe red warning. The operator explained that prolonged extreme temperatures can affect equipment on its older regional train fleet, including engines and cooling systems. The company is running a reduced timetable between London Paddington and Reading until Friday, following a decision by Network Rail to leave certain points — the metal components that enable trains to switch tracks — unmoved along that route, to minimise the risk of failures, which become considerably more likely in extreme heat.
LNER advised passengers travelling on Tuesday to board an earlier service, while warning that "we strongly advise that you do not travel across the LNER route" on Wednesday or Thursday. Disruption was also reported across the Transport for Wales network, affecting routes between Pontypridd and Cardiff Bay, as well as between Coryton and Penarth. South Western Railway issued an alert confirming it would operate reduced services between Tuesday and Thursday. Its Hampton routes in south-west London were further impacted by flooding on Tuesday morning, following torrential overnight rainfall. Flooding also triggered severe delays on the Elizabeth line between Heathrow airport and London Paddington. Several London Underground lines experienced significant disruption on Tuesday morning, most notably the complete suspension of the Circle line due to a signalling failure.
