Request for rail passengers to only travel if absolutely necessary as Met Office weather warning is extended into Friday 26 June.
Rail users have already been urged to only make necessary journeys on Wednesday 24 June and Thursday 25 June, to, from or within the current red weather warning zone for extreme heat in parts of England and Wales.
Now members of the public are being given the same advice if taking a train to, from or within the amber weather warning area on Friday 26 June – as forecasts predict soaring temperatures will continue through larger parts of the Midlands, East Anglia and the south of England.
And anyone travelling elsewhere on Friday should still check before they travel.
Network Rail and the wider rail industry will do our best to keep trains moving but keeping people safe when they are travelling is our absolute priority. That’s why, for safety reasons, trains will operate at reduced speeds and to amended timetables, meaning journeys will take longer and there is a heightened risk of delays, cancellations and last-minute alterations. There will be no rail replacement bus services during this period.
We do everything it can to prepare the network throughout the year so that we can keep the railway running in hot weather – using a combination of proactive monitoring and investment in smart technologies, like remote sensors and innovative cooling solutions, to protect critical infrastructure.
But when extreme heat hits – as is true across many areas of the world – the likelihood of disruption increases as the rising temperatures can adversely affect the tracks, power and signalling systems, and ground conditions, leading to rails expanding, overhead lines sagging, and infrastructure potentially failing.
On a 30C day, steel tracks can reach more than 50C at ground level.
Jake Kelly, deputy CEO 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 areas by the extremely high temperatures that are being recorded.
“If you do need to travel, please take extra care by planning ahead, allowing more time for your journey and bringing water to stay cool and comfortable. We really appreciate passengers’ patience and understanding while these conditions continue.”
Customers who hold a ticket for travel on Tuesday 23 June, Wednesday 24, Thursday 25 or Friday 26, can instead use it to travel any day up to and including Tuesday 30 June. Customers can also use their ticket to travel earlier in the day on 25 and 26 June when the temperatures are likely to be slightly cooler. Customers who no longer wish to travel can claim a full refund with no admin fee charged.
Passengers who do need to travel are strongly advised to prepare for the conditions by bringing plenty of water, wearing sunscreen and a hat, and ensuring that they have a back-up plan in case of disruption.
Passengers are reminded to take the following steps to stay safe when travelling in hot weather:
* Check your journey status before leaving
* Wear light, cool clothing and consider handheld fans
* Carry water and stay hydrated. Water fountains are available at stations – ask staff if you need help locating one
* Do not travel if you feel unwell; seek assistance from staff if you become unwell during your journey
* Avoid pulling the passenger alarm between stations, where possible – help can be provided more quickly at a station platform
* If you are on a stranded train, do not exit – the railway is live
The areas affected by the Met Office’s amber weather warning are:
East Midlands
- Derby
- Derbyshire
- Leicester
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Northamptonshire
- Nottingham
- Nottinghamshire
- Rutland
East of England
- Bedford
- Cambridgeshire
- Central Bedfordshire
- Essex
- Hertfordshire
- Luton
- Norfolk
- Peterborough
- Southend-on-Sea
- Suffolk
- Thurrock
London & South East England
- Bracknell Forest
- Brighton and Hove
- Buckinghamshire
- East Sussex
- Greater London
- Hampshire
- Kent
- Medway
- Milton Keynes
- Oxfordshire
- Reading
- Slough
- Surrey
- West Berkshire
- West Sussex
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wokingham
North West England
- Cheshire East
- Cheshire West and Chester
- Greater Manchester
- Halton
- Merseyside
- Warrington
South West England
- Gloucestershire
West Midlands
- Shropshire
- Staffordshire
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Telford and Wrekin
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands Conurbation
- Worcestershire
Yorkshire & Humber
- North East Lincolnshire
- North Lincolnshire
- South Yorkshire
Image credit: Network Rail
