UK Heatwave Reaches Record 40°C, Train Network Faces Service Delays and Disruptions

UK Heatwave Reaches Record 40°C, Train Network Faces Service Delays and Disruptions. (Images: Network Rail)

A scorching heatwave in the UK has reached temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius for the first time, the Met Office said on Tuesday (Jul 19), where it has issued a first-ever red and several amber extreme heat warnings across parts of England.

The meteorological agency warns that temperatures are continuing to climb in many places, with new temperature records possibly being set.

UK Train Network Affected Due To Severe Heatwave

Speed restrictions imposed due to risk of track buckling

Running rail tracks painted white to absorb less heat, making it unlikely to buckle and bend. (Image: Network Rail)

Network Rail—which owns and operates 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts in Britain—said on Friday that it will introduce speed restrictions on railway lines across the country.

These railway speed restrictions are needed to ensure the safe running of trains, it said.

“The impact on train services will vary by region, but journeys will take significantly longer and there is a high likelihood of cancellations, delays and last-minute alterations.”

The operator mentioned in an article published earlier this month that it has painted certain parts of the running rail white to absorb less heat, making it less likely to buckle and bend.

It estimates that a painted rail track is typically five to ten degrees Celsius cooler.

Enhanced inspections carried out on London Tube and Rail network

Barking Riverside station had seen “hardly any passengers” due to the heatwave. (Image: Transport for London)

Transport for London (TfL)—the government body responsible for the transportation system in London—said on Saturday that it has a “comprehensive hot weather plan in place” amidst the severe heatwave.

It is carrying out enhanced inspections to mitigate the extreme weather impact as these temperatures “can affect rails, overhead power lines and signalling equipment”.

According to TfL’s live status updates webpage on Tuesday, several Tube lines have been delayed due to “heat-related speed restrictions”, and the Overground was partly suspended and delayed due to speed restrictions, track faults, fire alerts and signalling failures.

It recently opened the new Barking Riverside station on Monday but had seen “hardly any passengers” due to the heatwave and TfL’s travel advisory, as reported by MyLondon.

Europe’s heatwave expected to continue into next week

A trackside fire due to the heatwave near Sandy, Bedfordshire, has caused “major damage to signalling equipment and a level crossing”, disrupting train services between Peterborough and King’s Cross. (Image: Network Rail)

Europe’s heatwave looks to have peaked on Tuesday, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said, as reported by Reuters.

Chief of Applied Climate Services at the WMO, Robert Stefanski, who responded to queries on when the heatwave would end, said, “looking at all the models from all our partners at a national and regional level, possibly not until middle of next week”.

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External Links
Record breaking temperatures for the UK – Met Office [Accessed 20 Jul 2022]
Rail passengers in England and Wales warned to only travel if necessary ahead of soaring temperatures – Network Rail [Accessed 20 Jul 2022]
TfL advises customers to only travel if essential on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 July, due to very high temperatures – Transport for London [Accessed 20 Jul 2022]
New London Overground station opens with hardly any passengers due to heatwave – MyLondon [Accessed 20 Jul 2022]
Europe’s heatwave could persist into next week after peaking, World Meteorlogical Organization says – Reuters [Accessed 20 Jul 2022]

Images by Network Rail, Network Rail, Network Rail, Network Rail and Transport for London.
This article first appeared on SGTrains.