Network Rail has urged train passengers to only travel if “absolutely necessary” on Thursday and Friday in areas most affected by extreme heat. The warning comes as temperatures are set to soar, with the Met Office issuing red and amber weather warnings.
Red and Amber Warnings Cover Large Areas
Thursday’s red warning zone covers large parts of southern England and southern Wales, while Friday’s amber alert stretches from the South East up to the North West and South Yorkshire. Network Rail said trains will operate at reduced speeds and services will be cut for “safety reasons”. Anyone travelling elsewhere on Friday “should still check before they travel”, Network Rail added.
Heat-Related Risks to the Railway
Heat-related issues that can affect the railway include buckled rails, sagging overhead electric wires, and lineside fires. Steel rails can exceed 50C when the air temperature is 30C. Provisional figures suggest the temperature on Wednesday reached 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire.
Network Rail's Safety Message
Jake Kelly, deputy chief executive of Network Rail, said: “We know how important it is for people to get where they need to be, but this spell of very hot weather will make journeys more challenging across the network. Very high temperatures, like we are seeing in Great Britain and across parts of Europe, put significant strain on the railway, so our priority is to keep passengers safe while keeping services running. We’re asking passengers to think carefully about their plans and only travel if it’s absolutely necessary in the areas most affected by the extremely high temperatures that are being recorded.”
Service Reductions and Operator Advice
Passengers who do need to travel are being urged to plan ahead and carry a bottle of water. Chiltern Railway is running fewer than half its usual services between Wednesday and Friday, affecting London Marylebone services to and from Birmingham, Oxford, and Aylesbury via Amersham. The operator acknowledged “there may be significant delays and very busy conditions”.
Avanti West Coast has cut one train per hour on its Birmingham, Liverpool, and Manchester routes between Tuesday and Friday. LNER, which runs services on the East Coast Main Line, told passengers “we strongly recommend that you do not travel” on Thursday or Friday, and those planning to take a train on Saturday should check for service updates. Many operators have eased restrictions on tickets, meaning they can be refunded without a fee or used on alternative dates.
