Heatwave 22-27 June - effect on the UK Railway

[Class 317]

Humidity shouldn't make a difference to the railway though, as far as I am aware.

It will have a massive effect on staff who are out in the heat particularly if required to repair faults or evacuate trains.

 

[aar0]

I would imagine that there might be some diesel haulage on Heritage railways today.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway has cancelled all services.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I’ve started using the Hadfield Line… can’t wait to see how that ultra modern Overhead Electrification holds up on Wednesday & Thursday

Imagine they'll sub it with DMUs like they did last time - I seem to recall it isn't tensioned in the same way as modern OHLE and so sags.

 

[Class 466]

Southern West London Line services are curtailed to run only between East Croydon & Shepherd's Bush from 1400 today until 1900 - presume this, or something similar will also apply for the rest of the week.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Jun 2026 ==

Imagine they'll sub it with DMUs like they did last time - I seem to recall it isn't tensioned in the same way as modern OHLE and so sags.

Yup - Last time the service ran until around midday when the OHLE sagged so much it was close to touching the 150s.

 

[Haywain]

Pretty simple on how it will make a difference - the railway in the most part relies on humans to operate it. Humans are affected by humidity.

My comment was referring to it making no significant difference to the infrastructure.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Services on the SDR are diesel hauled Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

[6Gman]

Yesterday I was on an Avanti train and they advised passengers to avoid Coach D as the Air Conditioning was broken. That is one of the worst things to happen when it's hot.

Last summer we were on a 390 with failed air-con. And Full & Standing. Happily, our part of the train was all "blitz spirit", laughed, joked and kept hydrated. Well hydrated in some cases.

It also helped that we were only travelling from Stafford to Crewe!




[Yes, I fully acknowledge it can be a horrible experience in other circumstances.]

 

[Trackman]

I had a journey back home from Sheffield on Saturday afternoon on a 170 where the aircon had failed, the staff apologised, and Saturday wasn't the hottest day in our area recently. Not improved by large numbers of extra passengers making for Doncaster because of the Bedford accident. Drank my 'emergency supply' of water, which I always keep at the bottom of my bag

Good thinking.
I always have a few of those small drinks cartons in my bag, like orange and vimto plus some mini cheddar biscuits.
If travelling in a heatwave, be it on a train or whatever my trick is to fill a small water bottle up about 3/4 full of water and pop it in the freezer overnight - what you have to have watch is it defrosting the day after, quite simple really, when you can unscrew the top to let it breathe a little, the ice will be there most of the day so its cold water.

Your post caught my eye as I was stuck on a 170 without air-con after a total unit failure and it was a scorching hot day, I used my emergency supplies too!
We were in the middle of no-where, just fields everywhere. After about 90 minutes a fitter turned up, how they got there is beyond me, unless there was a thunderbird unit/loco involved. He opened a few floor panels and sorted the problem out, obviously we were told stay in our seats.

 

[Bald Rick]

I can't remember, do we know what the criteria are for introducing speed restrictions, is there some specific temperature? And I seem to remember it typically being a 50mph blanket limit, is that right?

It varies.

My comment was referring to it making no significant difference to the infrastructure.

But the infrastructure relies on people to make it work. Also, as others have said, air conditioning is a critical part of infrastrcuture, and that will have to work much harder, and thus be more prone to failure than in low humidity conditions.

 

[mike57]

Good thinking.

Mine is a small refillable plastic bottle with a good seal that has never leaked. Some stations have 'refill points' so if I use it there may be a chance to fill it againa. It came from the kitchenware shop 'Lakeland' and has outlasted various fancy water beakers. I dont worry about it being cold, if I am in a situation where I need it then warm is better than nothing. It holds about 1/2 a pint

 

[Horizon22]

Humidity shouldn't make a difference to the railway though, as far as I am aware.

No, but it will to passengers who are more likely to fall ill, collapse etc.

Air conditioning - particularly on older stock - has limits and will at some point simply be overworked and fail trying to extract that much heat.

Not to mention the impact on track workers who simply could not safely work in such conditions - to for example, rectify a fault - especially with required PPE. The “wet bulb temperatures” may start to get exceeded.

 

[Class 466]

it's worth remembering just how disruptive the heatwave of July 2022 was if anyone is planning to travel - This is set to nearly match it temperature wise, but at a time of year when the sun is at its absolute highest.

Infrastructure is already beginning to creak a little with points failures cropping up in a number of locations.

 

[Howardh]

Any thoughts on likely WCML disruption? London-Manchester-Stoke-London in the next 36 hours for several important meetings and want to be back for the football on Tuesday night.

As I've written on the trips etc thread, my journey's on Thursday and I'll be watching with acute interest! If Avanti (in my case) have to reduce speed, alter timetables etc I hope they allow and alert those with advance tickets to use earlier trains or even a different company.

 

[tram21]

As I've written on the trips etc thread, my journey's on Thursday and I'll be watching with acute interest! If Avanti (in my case) have to reduce speed, alter timetables etc I hope they allow and alert those with advance tickets to use earlier trains or even a different company.

They will, LNER have already completely relaxed all restrictions.

 

[voyagerdude220]

As I've written on the trips etc thread, my journey's on Thursday and I'll be watching with acute interest! If Avanti (in my case) have to reduce speed, alter timetables etc I hope they allow and alert those with advance tickets to use earlier trains or even a different company.

From the Avanti website homepage:

• Tickets dated Tuesday 23 June can be used at no extra cost (and without changing them) to travel on Monday 22 June, or on any earlier Avanti West Coast service on Tuesday.
• Tickets dated Wednesday 24 June can be used at no extra cost (and without changing them) to travel on Tuesday 23 June, or on any earlier Avanti West Coast service on Wednesday.
• Tickets dated Thursday 25 June can be used at no extra cost (and without changing them) to travel on Wednesday 24 or Friday 26 June, or on any earlier Avanti West Coast service on Thursday.
• If you no longer wish to travel, Avanti West Coast tickets dated Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24 or Thursday 25 June will be eligible for a full refund from where you bought your ticket.

 

[Howardh]

They will, LNER have already completely relaxed all restrictions.

Thanks, I've heard nothing from Avanti thought; I will try to contact them.

EDIT - just seen the above post - thanks!!!

 

[kje7812]

I would imagine that there might be some diesel haulage on Heritage railways today.

Addition to the previously mentioned Gloucester Warwickshire, Severn Valley, Bluebell and West Somerset have all cancelled mid week services.
Sitting in a Mark 1 in up to 40C weather sounds like hell. Especially as at 25 mph you only get so much draught.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Addition to the previously mentioned Gloucester Warwickshire, Severn Valley, Bluebell and West Somerset have all cancelled mid week services.
Sitting in a Mark 1 in up to 40C weather sounds like hell. Especially as at 25 mph you only get so much draught.

In the case of heritage lines it'll be more about the risk of fire from sparks (in the case of steam) and volunteer welfare. I actually think a ride would be quite pleasant with all the windows open!

 

[kje7812]

In the case of heritage lines it'll be more about the risk of fire from sparks (in the case of steam) and volunteer welfare. I actually think a ride would be quite pleasant with all the windows open!

Not really. I was basing my comment on the hot weather we had for May half term (SVR and GWSR travelling as staff and passenger respectively). The breeze at 25mph just isn't cooling enough.
Fire risk and volunteer welfare are important factors.

 

[voyagerdude220]

In the case of heritage lines it'll be more about the risk of fire from sparks (in the case of steam) and volunteer welfare. I actually think a ride would be quite pleasant with all the windows open!

I sadly seem to recall during hot weather a member of footplate Staff passing away last year whilst working the regular Carlisle to London Euston Charter which has Steam traction Carlisle-Settle-Preston.

 

[Deepgreen]

The rolling stock may handle 40c, but the infrastructure sure doesn't! On one of the 40c days that year sagging overhead wires caught on a train in the tunnels at New Street, which pulled it all down, resulting in the evacuation of several trains, crippling New Street, in the evening peak.

In the ensuing chaos I was unfortunate enough to be on a train to Wolves that was misrouted and we were turfed off onto the platform at Tame Bridge Parkway (there could hardly be a worse place in the midlands to be left!) and had to wait a considerable amount of time there, with little to no shade, in 40c temperatures to be rescued... back to New Street.

I won't be commuting to the office this week.

There has only been one "40c day" recorded in the UK, at Coningsby, Lincolnshire in July 2022 - 40.3C.

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I did notice Network Rail have re-upped their explainer page on the issue; presumably in the hope that some journalist might read it before asking stupid questions: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/rail-travel/delays-explained/buckled-rail-and-summer-heat/

Well, that's a new word on me...!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Jun 2026 ==

As if I needed reminding of the ability of steel to collect heat - I picked up a large garden fork (left in the sun) by the metal section an hour ago (brightly-polished steel, just like a rail head) and it almost burned me.

 

[CharlieSpotted]

The rolling stock may handle 40c, but the infrastructure sure doesn't! On one of the 40c days that year sagging overhead wires caught on a train in the tunnels at New Street, which pulled it all down, resulting in the evacuation of several trains, crippling New Street, in the evening peak.

There has only been one "40c day" recorded in the UK, at Coningsby, Lincolnshire in July 2022 - 40.3C.

Presumably, then, it was that day! Or at least, during that very hot period in July 2022.

 

[Mattplans]

Southeastern's saunas metro stock have produced this fantastic meme however:

 

[MarkWi72]

On the weekend of 18-20th July 2022, I was in Glasgow for a mate's stag 'do'. We went from Friday until Sunday. It was just as the heatwave was settling in. In Glasgow it was cloudy and quite warm, without being excessive on that morning (about 18-20c). I was due , with another member of the party, to go back around 2.30in the afternoon , all the way back to New Street. By early afternoon, the clouds were lifting and it was getting hotter.

When we got to Central Station, it was absolute chaos. The queues for trains stretched around the block. Then a member of Avanti Staff, hot and flustered, called out if any of us were for stations other than Euston. We jumped and said we were, and so did 2 or 3 other blokes. We ended up getting a paid taxi to Preston, were we could get a connection back to Wolverhampton, then we'd get a local back to Brum (when we stopped at Beattock Services, we could feel the dryness of the heat as we were heading south towards it all). As it happened, the Preston connection was also a late running train from Blackpool, so that added 40 more minutes on. I eventually got home at 11pm (I've gotten home from the Ardeche in 10 hours via rail in the past).

Anyway, it was caused directly and indirectly by extreme heat. There were track/grass fires at Stafford, sagging wires on the Trent Valley, buckled rails elsewhere, points failure at Crewe; and there'd been a shortage of train crew, made worse by the fact some of their trains into work were cancelled. It shows how chaotic this is when extreme weather (getting commoner by the year) not properly legislated or prepared for. And as collective, I'm not sure any organization is (and the railway is part of that wider picture), but I bet it still fares better than other systems.

I understand why precautions need to be taken. Stay at home is the best solution (not always feasible, I know), but that will be forced in any case, for some.

 

[TheLastMinute]

GWR are advising on their website that a revised service will be in place on Wed 24 and Thur 25 June and that travel on these days should be for essential reasons only. Tickets for Wed and Thurs can be used any day between Monday and Friday this week.

They also point out that their older regional train fleet is more likely to be affected by the heat.

Amended service to run during extreme heat following rare Met Office red weather warning.

Essential travel only on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June​

Due to a rare red warning of extreme heat, customers are being warned of essential travel only on Wednesday and Thursday.

Extreme heat can cause rails to expand and buckle, so when temperatures reach certain thresholds, trains must run more slowly to keep services safe. This will mean fewer trains and slightly longer journey times during the warmest periods of each day.

Prolonged high temperatures can also affect equipment on our older regional train fleet, including engines and cooling systems. This means there may be some short-notice changes or cancellations, particularly during the hottest parts of the day.

To help customers, those with tickets to travel on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June can use them to travel on Monday 22, Tuesday 23 and up to and including Friday 26 June.

While we expect to operate the majority of services across the network, the reduction follows the Met Office extreme heat weather warning from Monday 22 June until Thursday 25 June.

What customers should do:

• Only travel if necessary on Wednesday and Thursday: The Met Office says the high temperatures could lead to serious illness
• Check before you travel: Where possible, plan ahead and check journey times closer to the time of travel, particularly for the hottest part of the day.
• Allow extra time: Journeys are likely to take longer than usual, so build this into your plans, especially if you have a connection to make or need to be somewhere by a specific time.
• Bring water: Carry water with you, particularly if you expect to be travelling during the hottest periods or waiting on platforms.
• If you feel unwell, don't board: If you are waiting for a train and feel unwell due to the heat, please speak to a member of staff, who will be able to help.

Customers in the Thames Valley should plan for changes to trains during the hottest parts of the day on Monday and Tuesday as well, as service alterations will take place to reduce the need for trains to cross sections of track.

Calling patterns of some local stopping services between London and Reading will be changed to minimise the use of points, which move trains between tracks, to reduce the risk of points failure. This mainly affects all-stations services that normally use the slower relief lines, with changes to trains serving Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford.

Due to the short notice changes, industry information systems will not show the correct train timetable until the day of travel.

For the latest service information, customers should check GWR.com before travelling.

 

[td97]

From the Avanti website homepage:

• Tickets dated Tuesday 23 June can be used at no extra cost (and without changing them) to travel on Monday 22 June, or on any earlier Avanti West Coast service on Tuesday.
• Tickets dated Wednesday 24 June can be used at no extra cost (and without changing them) to travel on Tuesday 23 June, or on any earlier Avanti West Coast service on Wednesday.
• Tickets dated Thursday 25 June can be used at no extra cost (and without changing them) to travel on Wednesday 24 or Friday 26 June, or on any earlier Avanti West Coast service on Thursday.
• If you no longer wish to travel, Avanti West Coast tickets dated Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24 or Thursday 25 June will be eligible for a full refund from where you bought your ticket.

Am I correctly interpreting that as a complete removal of peak restrictions from Tuesday to Thursday?

 

[Howardh]

Am I correctly interpreting that as a complete removal of peak restrictions from Tuesday to Thursday?

Good question! I need to know the answer too, although - on the other hand - I don't want to travel on packed commuter trains into Manchester before 9.30 (although if I could get to Piccadilly by 7.30am I'd consider it)

 

[sh24]

First leg going well, 15 mins late past Milton Keynes and now diverting via Northampton due to broken down Pendo, which appears to have blocked the up and the down just past Roade. Wires down?

 

[thaitransit]

It seems the UK is experiencing a typical Australian summer. For the railways that means between 10am and 8pm the dreaded heat speed restrictions and it depends on the temperature as to how slow they are. If its over 36 degrees C it means 80kph max speed and if its over 40 degrees C its 40 kph max speed. This can add hours to journeys and there are full temporary heat timetables to account for the significant increase in journey times.

I would assume the UK has a similar heat timetable situation with special timetables for lines effected by extreme heat?

One has to hope the air-conditioning on the train is working well on days like that. Air-conditioning failure normally results in the train terminate at next station and passengers to transfer to following service or buses are called in for rest of journey!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Jun 2026 ==

Southeastern's saunas metro stock have produced this fantastic meme however:

Thats one way to deal with aircon failure. Given the back up windows are open I would assume the aircon is not working! Had that experience many times before and it usually resulted in being booted off the train at next station to wait for road coaches. Thus you end up sitting on a regional station trying to keep cool while its pushing 47 degrees C and the wind feels like a blast furnace!

 

[josh-j]

Thats one way to deal with aircon failure. Given the back up windows are open I would assume the aircon is not working! Had that experience many times before and it usually resulted in being booted off the train at next station to wait for road coaches. Thus you end up sitting on a regional station trying to keep cool while its pushing 47 degrees C and the wind feels like a blast furnace!

A lot of UK trains don't have aircon at all! It's not going to be a fun time commuting for a lot of people.