Rail passengers told to only travel if essential amid red extreme heat warning

Rail passengers in Britain have been urged to travel only if absolutely necessary as a red extreme heat warning comes into effect. The Met Office has issued the alert for Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures forecast to hit 37°C across southern England and Wales, potentially reaching 40°C in some areas.

Network Rail is expected to impose speed restrictions, as it did during the record heatwave of 2022 when two lines were closed. Slower trains will lead to significant delays and cancellations. One operator, Chiltern Railways, which runs between London and Birmingham, has already axed more than half of its normal timetable.

Jake Kelly, Network Rail’s deputy chief executive, said: “Extreme heat can have a significant impact on the railway, so safety must come first. We’re asking passengers to check before travelling on Tuesday, and only travel if absolutely essential on Wednesday and Thursday if they are going to, from or within the red warning zone.”

High temperatures can cause steel rails to expand and buckle, requiring lower speeds. Intense heat also increases the risk of overhead wires sagging or breaking on electrified routes, and can cause signalling and electrical systems to overheat.

The disruption coincides with ongoing problems on the Midland mainline following a fatal collision on Friday between two EMR trains at Bedford, which killed a train driver and injured about 100 passengers. Investigations and repair work are expected to continue, limiting services for the rest of the week.

Michael Stewart, commercial director at Chiltern Railways, said: “We strongly advise you to avoid travelling over the next three days 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. If you do need to travel, please stay safe, check your journeys on the morning you travel and carry a bottle of water at all times.”