Network Rail has urged train passengers to travel only if absolutely necessary on Thursday and Friday in areas most affected by extreme heat. Services will operate at reduced speeds and be cut for safety reasons, the rail infrastructure operator confirmed.
Heat-Related Risks on the Railway
Heat-related issues affecting the railway include buckled rails, sagging overhead electric wires, and lineside fires. Steel rails can exceed 50C when the air temperature reaches 30C. Network Rail advised passengers to travel only if absolutely necessary if part of their journey falls within the Met Office's red warning zone on Thursday or the amber warning zone on Friday.
Thursday's red zone covers large parts of southern England and southern Wales, while Friday's alert stretches from the South East up to the North West and South Yorkshire. Passengers travelling elsewhere on Friday should still check before they travel, Network Rail added.
Record Temperatures and Service Cuts
Provisional figures show the temperature on Wednesday reached 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire. 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.”
Passengers who must travel are urged to plan ahead and carry a bottle of water.
Operator-Specific Disruptions
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 travel on Saturday should check for service updates. Many operators have eased restrictions on tickets, allowing refunds without a fee or use on alternative dates.
