Heatwave 22-27 June - effect on the UK Railway

[LowLevel]

I do find the 'only travel if essential' messages bizarre.

If people need to get to work, then need to get there unless their employer separately has made other arrangements,

If you are travelling because you have tickets for a show, tonight is the night you have tickets for.

If you are attending a family member's birthday, today's the birthday.

Life goes on.

People will do what they do. I have no issue with it. The one helpful thing with the messaging is I've been working on overcrowded 158s with no working air con all week and it's useful to be able to point out that we said it would be horrible and it is indeed horrible, but it's also horrible for us and we are doing our best to get you about so thanks for your patience and understanding.

We are however seeing an increase in traincrew who are saying that the passengers may be willing to put up with the train being so hot but they aren't interested in heatstroke so refusing to work.

Going on the rest of the week so far though I can't help but think Nottingham station will be one to avoid after the test match today as thousands of them have arrived and were already getting tanked up at 9am, so are probably going to be tickled pink (not) by the inevitable cancellations at home time.

EMR have already pulled the Robin Hood Line service this afternoon after 2 days in a row of 170s dying on Annesley Bank on their way through Newstead.

 

[ld0595]

The red heat warning has been extended into Friday.

 

[TUC]

Isn’t the actual advice “avoid all but essential travel”, which is a very different thing. OK, people’s interpretation of essential will vary (as indeed will the “neutral” essential hurdle) but it makes it pretty clear to most that they’re taking a risk by travelling.

That's a different issue though. To say that services may be subject to short notice delays and cancellations is one thing, but that is very different to 'only travel if essential'

 

[MontyP]

I saw way up the thread someone having to make decisions about travelling to London for onward Eurostar to France?
For anyone else in the same predicament it may be some reassurance that it's been 36C every day since last Wednesday in southern Germany (4 days) and Switzerland and there has been no noticeable impact on services at all. Every train the aircon has been working. Heading back to Germany today so here's hoping.
Having said all that temperatures in central and eastern France are higher than Germany I think.

I travelled Munich-Innsbruck last Sat and back yesterday, it was in the 30s both days and things were definitely not working as expected although whether that was heat-related or just the shambles that is DB at the moment I don't know. The OBB railjet yesterday was very warm to say the least

 

[The exile]

That's a different issue though. To say that services may be subject to short notice delays and cancellations is one thing, but that is very different to 'only travel if essential'

But it’s not just “trains may be subject to delays /cancellations” - it’s “the whole system may go into meltdown at any moment”. I’ve heeded the advice so don’t know what the conditions were like yesterday, but can’t imagine what it would have been like in the 2-car unit leaving Bristol for Bath and the Avon Valley after the previous 4 trains (about 13 carriages’ worth) had been cancelled - let alone if there had been normal loadings (must have been about 5pm but didn’t note the details)

 

[zsl11913]

Was on Thameslink from Brighton into London yesterday afternoon - 700s coped with the heat well and the aircon surprisingly holded on. Some cancellations and considerable delay at Brighton but we didn't get stranded for too long. However due to the nature of the beach/weather and demographic, the entire train was full of (almost) naked bodies... I changed at Hayward Heath for a Southern train from Ore, and the vibe was much more conservative

 

[Purple Train]

However due to the nature of the beach/weather and demographic, the entire train was full of (almost) naked bodies... I changed at Hayward Heath for a Southern train from Ore, and the vibe was much more conservative

It was similar (though perhaps not that extreme) for me going from Plymouth into Slough, which was interesting because I wouldn't expect Plymouth to be anywhere near as unconservative as Brighton.

The 800's aircon wasn't the most effective when the blinds were open, but it got the job done, and the 345 was very cool. Overall it was quite a pleasant journey in spite of a large delay near the end, which is good because I have to do it all over again tomorrow...

 

[Bletchleyite]

I had an 80x from Bodmin to Paddington on the last 40 degree day and it was lovely even with blinds up.

 

[jupiter]

I was on SWR's 444040 yesterday doing the Weymouth - Bournemouth shuttle. Admittedly I took a 1st class ticket as I only did a short run Poole-Bournemouth and back but the environment was spot on and the staff were being very helpful to everyone.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I was on SWR's 444040 yesterday doing the Weymouth - Bournemouth shuttle. Admittedly I took a 1st class ticket as I only did a short run Poole-Bournemouth and back but the environment was spot on and the staff were being very helpful to everyone.

Desiros generally cope pretty well.

 

[Bornin1980s]

I do find the 'only travel if essential' messages bizarre.

If people need to get to work, then need to get there unless their employer separately has made other arrangements,

If you are travelling because you have tickets for a show, tonight is the night you have tickets for.

If you are attending a family member's birthday, today's the birthday.

Life goes on.

The wartime poster was 'Is your journey really nessesary?'

Hard to see how that is any more difficult or risky than a bus driver doing the same route all day.

Was it less of an issue in steam days, when the crew had to do constant engineering on the go? Also, is it more common for drivers to make multiple trips on shorter lines?

 

[pieswick]

Broken down train near Stratford International, certainly wouldn’t want to be stuck in those tunnels for longer than necessary

 

[The exile]

Broken down train near Stratford International, certainly wouldn’t want to be stuck in those tunnels for longer than necessary

At least you’d be out of the sun!

 

[WelshBluebird]

Axle counter failure between Newport and Cardiff apparently, no idea if its heat related mind you and from what I can tell other services havent been affected by it. Thankfully the IET is doing a great job with its AC (much better today than when I was on one Tuesday, despite the higher temperatures). Was a little concerning doing an emergency stop in the Newport tunnel to say the least but credit to the train manager for being great over the PA.

 

[Trainman40083]

It would take a long time to have any significant impact.

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

Aside from rails, the other significant impact of hot weather is on overhead lines, where heat causes sag and the tensioning is by weights which can only go so far before they become ineffective.

Also OHLE tensioning is done by autotensioners, Pfisterer made one type in use..

 

[Russel]

How are the 158s on the Cambrian fairing?

Can't take much more of the heat in the midlands and it's looking like 10 degrees cooler in Barmouth tomorrow than Lichfield so tempted to have a day out...

 

[Peter0124]

At least you’d be out of the sun!

Atleast theres full phone signal in there!

 

[peteb]

Someone I know currently on 1H16 1845 Birmingham to Marylebone Chiltern Mainline, no Aircon, plus doors jammed at vestibules so cannot move carriages. Hot in train. Looks bleak for those aboard. I've advised them to bale out but the following West Midlands service to Leamington is a 2 car.......
UPDATE
Apparently they've been told it takes till Solihull for the Aircon to kick in, which it's now started to do, thankfully. Curious, assumed mk5's more efficient than that?
FURTHER UPDATE
1H16 Held outside Leamington Spa for track safety inspection, but eventually arrived +14....

 

[Bletchleyite]

How are the 158s on the Cambrian fairing?

The windows have been open for weeks now...

(Used it about a month ago and they already mostly were then...)

 

[cheekybifta]

Haven't seen a 158 parked in the bay at Llandudno Junction for a while

 

[dk1]

I had an 80x from Bodmin to Paddington on the last 40 degree day and it was lovely even with blinds up.

Yes I have found them superb on warm days to/from the West Country.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jun 2026 ==

The windows have been open for weeks now...

(Used it about a month ago and they already mostly were then...)

Won’t be an issue for much longer on the Cambrian route.

 

[CR165022]

Someone I know currently on 1H16 1845 Birmingham to Marylebone Chiltern Mainline, no Aircon, plus doors jammed at vestibules so cannot move carriages. Hot in train. Looks bleak for those aboard. I've advised them to bale out but the following West Midlands service to Leamington is a 2 car.......
UPDATE
Apparently they've been told it takes till Solihull for the Aircon to kick in, which it's now started to do, thankfully. Curious, assumed mk5's more efficient than that?

Given Chiltern have pulled the MK5s from service this week, I'd imagine they probably wouldn't be more efficient

 

[800002]

doors jammed at vestibules so cannot move carriages

If the interconnecting doors do not open and allow passage, this needs to be flagged to rhe on board train manager at the next station stop.

 

[Silver Cobra]

I was on SWR's 444040 yesterday doing the Weymouth - Bournemouth shuttle. Admittedly I took a 1st class ticket as I only did a short run Poole-Bournemouth and back but the environment was spot on and the staff were being very helpful to everyone.

Much the same with the Southeastern 375 I used today. Absolutely blissful stepping onto that train, how well the air-con was working on it.

 

[800002]

Given Chiltern have pulled the MK5s from service this week, I'd imagine they probably wouldn't be more efficient

It depends on how long the units been sat at Moor Street for.
Air con is more efficient it's moving.
The passage of air is required, rather than sucking the surrounding air at a standstill.

 

[Russel]

The windows have been open for weeks now...

(Used it about a month ago and they already mostly were then...)

That goes without saying I suppose!

Given Chiltern have pulled the MK5s from service this week, I'd imagine they probably wouldn't be more efficient

Why pull the Mk5s? If they've cut the service, wouldn't it make sense to use their biggest trains?

 

[Kite159]

It depends on how long the units been sat at Moor Street for.
Air con is more efficient it's moving.
The passage of air is required, rather than sucking the surrounding air at a standstill.

Especially if the engines had been shut down

 

[800002]

Why pull the Mk5s? If they've cut the service, wouldn't it make sense to use their biggest trains?

No!
'Biggest' is too subjective, sorry.
Run less services with maximum capacity.
mk5a (5 car unit) has less than 300 seats.
5-165 has circa 450.
5-168 has circa 350.
(Appreciate numbers are not definitive)

Especially if the engines had been shut down

Yes!

 

[sammyg901]

yes even some of the Birminghams have been one or both units as a 165 presumably to max out capacity . Also means no guards needed to/from London which keeps things simple

Tomorrow is looking like a headache. They've put in the same emergency timetable but Harry Styles is back on at Wembley so they're promising to load some extras tomorrow!

 

[Segedunum]

I must say today has been pretty seamless. Five cars on my train from Princes Risborough to Marylebone was sufficient (even if the 165 sounded a bit ill) then no issues from Kings Cross up to Newcastle.

Only delay was signaller (or signalling) falling asleep and leaving from my train on the King Edward Bridge at a red signal outside a platform that was free the whole time...