Record-smashing temperatures have sparked travel chaos across the UK, with operators announcing cancellations or major delays as Brits swelter. Public transport operators alerted passengers that major delays are expected today as Brits return to work following the bank holiday weekend. Record temperatures for spring and May were smashed, with 34.8C being hit at Kew Gardens in West London.
Weather Warnings and Advice
A yellow weather warning is also in place for central England, with thunderstorms expected from as far south as Bath and up towards Leeds. Met Office forecasters warned where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services. While not all delays are caused by the scorching temperatures, people who are traveling via affected routes should consider bringing water with them. They have also been asked to ask staff for the location of water fountains in stations and not to board a service if they feel unwell.
Train Delays and Cancellations
Train operators have warned passengers that services have been cancelled or that restrictions are in place as temperatures soar across the country. Operator Great Northern said damage to overhead electric wires meant no services could run between Cambridge and Kings Lynn. Disruption is expected to continue until 3:30pm today. Passengers are advised to use an alternative route to reach their destination. LNER told passengers that speed restrictions on its routes were causing delays. Its services are limited to 20mph on 125mph lines at St Neots, Cambridgeshire, and Tollerton, North Yorkshire. The operator said there are also some alterations to services because it is running more Azuma trains rather than InterCity225 trains, as the former have better air conditioning.
South Western Railway announced earlier today that some of its Waterloo services had to run slower than usual while a safety inspection was being carried out. The operator said smoke was reported on the track between Waterloo and Vauxhall. ScotRail listed the following disruptions: Edinburgh to Glasgow Central via Shotts, Edinburgh to Glasgow Central via Carstairs, Glasgow Central to Newton (Lanark), and Lanark.
Further disruptions were announced by National Rail, which include: major disruption between Brighton and Hastings until 4:30pm; disruption to Elizabeth Line services between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield; residual disruption between London St Pancras International and London Blackfriars until 3pm; disruption at Cambridge expected until 4:30pm; disruption between Norwich and Lowesoft until the end of the day, with no trains between Reedham and Lowestoft; reduced service between Stratford (London) and Richmond/Clapham Junction until the end of the day; trains travelling away from London will not call at Deptford; and disruption to multiple services across the South Western Railway network.
Motorway Delays
While delays and closures on Britain's motorways might not be directly caused by traffic, people travelling should consider bringing water with them to avoid negative effects of being caught in congestion for longer periods than expected. Lanes 1 and 2 are closed on the A3 southbound between B2039 Ockham and A247 Burntcommon following a multiple vehicle collision. There are less than 10 minute delays and one mile of congestion on the approach. The A1 northbound is closed between J72 Gateshead and J74 Newcastle Upon Tyne due to a serious collision. There are 20 minute delays and three miles of congestion on the approach. Traffic is being held on the M5 northbound between J8 Strensham and J7 Worcester due to a multiple vehicle collision. There are delays of 45 minutes and five miles of congestion on the approach. The A282 Dartford Crossing is currently being held anticlockwise between J1B to J1A due to a police-led unit. Current delays of 30 minutes and two miles of congestion on the approach.
Vehicle Breakdowns
The AA said the number of breakdowns it attended between Friday and Monday was up 15 per cent on the same period last year. It said heatwave conditions put extra strain on vehicles. The company was called to 34,124 breakdowns over the four days compared to the 29,602 during the same bank holiday period in 2025. Sunday and Monday saw the biggest year-on-year increases, with callouts up 21 per cent on both days, while on Saturday and Friday there were rises of 17 per cent and five per cent, respectively.
Britain Swelters
Inland areas of the UK remain exceptionally hot, including some parts which are hotter than the Spanish island of Majorca, where temperatures reached 29C, the Met Office said on Tuesday. In a post on social media, it said: Unusually hot weather for the time of year is affecting much of Western Europe, with parts of France 10C above average for May. Coastal areas will be a little cooler but inland areas will remain exceptionally hot. Some areas of the UK will be hotter than Majorca. A total of 97 Met Office sites reached or surpassed 30C on Monday in the UK. Senior Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell said yesterday it is a huge number. The highest heatwave threshold in the UK at this time of year is 28C, and that applies to London and north of the capital towards Cambridgeshire. To qualify as a heatwave, temperatures must meet or surpass a specific threshold for three consecutive days.
