As Britain continues to swelter in an extreme heatwave, train passengers face further disruption. Passengers are being urged to only travel if "absolutely necessary" on Thursday (June 25) and Friday (June 26) in areas most affected by extreme heat.
Network Rail said trains will operate at reduced speeds and services will be cut for "safety reasons", as extreme heat can pose risks including buckled rails, sagging overhead electric wires and lineside fires.
Red and Amber Warnings in Effect
Passengers with at least part of their journey within the Met Office's red warning zone on Thursday, and amber warning zone on Friday, have been told to "only travel if absolutely necessary". Thursday's rare red alert covers large parts of southern England and southern Wales, while Friday's warning stretches from the South East up to the North West and South Yorkshire.
Anyone travelling elsewhere on Friday "should still check before they travel", Network Rail said.
Record Temperatures and Rail Risks
Provisional figures suggest the temperature on Wednesday reached 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire - and transport bosses warn steel rails can exceed 50C when the air temperature is 30C.
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."
Operator-Specific Disruptions
Chiltern Railway is running fewer than half its usual services between Wednesday and Friday. This affects 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. Passengers who do need to travel are being urged to plan ahead and carry a bottle of water.
