UK heatwave: Rail passengers urged not to travel amid mass cancellations

The most drastic summer speed restrictions in railway history have triggered widespread train cancellations across southern Britain.

“We strongly advise you to avoid travelling, if you can,” says Southeastern, which runs trains between London and Kent.

“Greater Anglia is advising customers not to travel unless absolutely necessary,” warn the train operator serving Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.

Even more vehemently, East Midlands Trains urges: “We strongly recommend you DO NOT TRAVEL TODAY.”

Passengers to and from Bedford on the train operator will not have any choice, because trains on the line between London St Pancras and Leicester will not be stopping at the station.

But the services will be going through at less than half their top speed of 125mph. Network RaIl has deployed its Extreme Weather Action Team (Ewat), which manages train services when temperatures soar or, more usually, plummet.

The temperature of rails in direct sunshine can exceed 50C, and that makes them susceptible to buckling.

The best way to reduce the risk is to cut the speed at which trains run. A blanket speed limit of 60mph has been imposed from 11.30am to mid evening, but in some places – notably where new rails or points have recently been installed – it will be as low as 20mph.

As a result trains will, obviously, take longer, and fewer services will run – partly because the rolling stock will be dawdling, and partly because line capacity is based on trains running at or near the maximum.

Many minor stations could find they have fewer trains, as stops are reduced to limit the divergence from the normal timetable.

These are the key problem areas.

The link between Cambridge and Stansted airport will be cut for nine hours from 11.30am.

Trains which normally run between Newcastle, Reading and Southampton will run only from Newcastle for Birmingham between 11.30am and 8pm.

The train operator is advising customers not to travel to or from London St Pancras International. Passengers hoping to reach Bedford “should travel to/from Luton/Luton Airport Parkway on a Thameslink service”.

On the London to Brighton main line, a reduced service will operate on the Gatwick Express, with all services starting and terminating at the airport rather than some of them continuing to the Brighton. “You may need to use Southern or Thameslink to complete your journey,” says the train operator.

“If you prefer to postpone your journey, tickets for travel on Thursday 25 July will be accepted on Grand Central services on Friday 26, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July.”

“There will be a severely reduced train service on some routes in the afternoon and evening, and Greater Anglia are advising that customers DO NOT TRAVEL unless absolutely necessary.”

Fewer trains will run between London and Cambridge, and an hourly shuttle will operate between Cambridge and Kings Lynn.

From approximately 10am until 8pm, a reduced service will be in operation between Cardiff Central and London Paddington.

“A reduced service will be running all day. Your tickets dated Thursday 25 July will be valid for travel on Friday 26, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July. If you choose not to travel you will be entitled to a full refund.”

The line between London King’s Cross and Peterborough will be severely disrupted. Tickets for today can be used to travel tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. Further north, “mutual ticket acceptance is also in place with TransPennine Express between Newcastle and York”.

“Trains between London Euston and Rugeley Trent Valley/Liverpool Lime Street may start/terminate at Northampton.

“A severely reduced service, with only 50 per cent of services running on most routes.

“Trains are currently unable to run between Edmonton Green and Cheshunt due to high track temperatures.

This has also resulted in reduced service between London Liverpool Street and Enfield Town/Cheshunt.

In the evening rush hour, no services will stop at Maryland.

Like many train operators, Southeastern has cut back services, running emergency timetables on all its lines and offering passengers booked to travel on Thursday 25 July the option to use it on Friday 26 July.

“A reduced service will be running between London and Bedford in both directions. Delays of up to 20 minutes are expected with some trains running non-stop between stations to reduce the overall delay into London. You are advised to board the first available service towards your destination changing on route.”

“Customers with TransPennine Express only advance tickets are advised that they may travel on any TransPennine Express train on Thursday 25 July.”

“We strongly advise you avoid travelling wherever possible. If you choose to travel, please allow extra time for your journey.

“Trains will be busier than usual due to the reduced number of trains in operation.

“Do expect trains to be delayed during their journey, please plan extra time for critical journeys.”