Travel expert Simon Calder has issued a fresh alert for anyone travelling by rail this week, offering his latest guidance for millions of people nationwide as a heatwave arrives. His warning follows significant disruption facing train passengers, with operators throughout Britain reducing services owing to the hot weather this week.
Heatwave to bring record temperatures
According to the Met Office, temperatures could hit 40C in parts of the UK, with the weather agency issuing a red extreme heat warning. Britain is experiencing what could be its hottest June since 1976.
Speaking on today's (23 June) episode of Good Morning Britain, the travel journalist and broadcaster provided a cautionary message to viewers. He encouraged people to alter their travel arrangements this week and, where possible, switch to another date owing to the severe heat over the coming days.
Calder's advice: postpone if possible
He 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."
The rail industry is bracing itself for disruptions caused by 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, reports the Mirror. Online journey planners may not reflect accurate timetables until the day of travel owing to last-minute cancellations.
Compensation rights for delayed or cancelled trains
According to Citizens Advice, if your train is cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund if you are unable to board the next service or decide against travelling altogether. If you experience delays and arrive at your destination more than 30 minutes late, you can generally claim some money back. Certain train operators may even offer compensation if your service is delayed by more than 15 minutes. Be sure to hold on to your train tickets in order to request a refund. It is advisable to submit your claim within 28 days, though some train companies may permit a longer 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 could be entitled to and how to go about making a claim.
Operator-specific changes and warnings
Avanti West Coast confirmed it intends to operate a reduced timetable between Tuesday and Thursday, warning that "there's a risk of further disruption". The firm relaxed ticket restrictions, allowing passengers to catch an earlier service than originally booked without additional charges. Anyone holding tickets for departures between Tuesday and Thursday can claim a full refund if they decide not to travel.
Chiltern Railways has cancelled more than half its services across those three days "to ensure the safe operation of the railway". This impacts London Marylebone services to and from Birmingham, Oxford and Aylesbury via Amersham. The operator stated: "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 people to use its services only for "essential travel" on Wednesday and Thursday, corresponding with a severe red warning from the Met Office. The firm noted that prolonged high temperatures can affect equipment on its older regional train fleet, including engines and cooling systems. It is running fewer trains than normal between London Paddington and Reading until Friday. This is because Network Rail isn't moving certain points—metal components that enable trains to change tracks—on that route to minimise the risk of failures, which become more likely in extreme heat.
LNER advised passengers travelling on Tuesday to board an earlier service, warning "we strongly advise that you do not travel across the LNER route" on Wednesday or Thursday. Disruption has also spread across the Transport for Wales network, affecting routes between Pontypridd and Cardiff Bay, as well as between Coryton and Penarth.
South Western Railway issued a warning confirming it would operate a reduced timetable between Tuesday and Thursday. Its services in Hampton, 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 were experiencing significant disruption on Tuesday morning, with the entire Circle line suspended due to a signalling fault.
