Brits told ‘do not travel’ as red warning issued for train passengers

A rare red warning for extreme heat has been issued to some areas of the UK, with Network Rail urging rail passengers not to travel on Wednesday and Thursday as TfL warns of significant disruption

Rail passengers throughout the UK have been warned against travelling over the next few days, as a rare red alert for extreme heat has been issued across parts of the country. TfL has cautioned about delays across the network, with the Elizabeth Line and Overground anticipated to face the worst disruption.

National Rail has urged commuters and travellers right across the UK to “only travel if absolutely essential on Wednesday and Thursday”. Jake Kelly, deputy chief executive of Network Rail, explained: “Extreme heat can have a significant impact on the railway, so safety must come first.

“We’re asking passengers to check before travelling on Tuesday, and only travel if absolutely essential on Wednesday and Thursday if they are going to, from or within the red warning zone as temperatures are expected to peak.”, reports MyLondon.

“If you do need to travel in this area or outside of it where it will still be hot, please plan ahead, allow extra time and take necessary precautions, such as carrying water, to stay safe. We thank passengers for their patience and understanding during this period.”

Transport for London (TfL) has also warned commuters about possible disruption to rail and tube services, alerting that scorching heat on board could lead to temporary speed restrictions and reduced services.

Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, warned: “Customers should be aware that, given the very high temperatures that are forecast, we are likely to see some disruption to rail and Tube services – with rail temperatures likely to lead to temporary speed restrictions and therefore reduced services in some cases.

“This will vary by line, with some services that share parts of the overground rail network – like the Overground and the Elizabeth line – likely to be more affected.”

Mann further stated: “We expect bus services to run as normal although, during periods of hot weather, we are encouraging customers to carry water with them when they travel on any of our services.”

Five regions have also been hit with a red health warning alert by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). These encompass the West Midlands, the East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and East of England. The health alert kicks off at 1am on Wednesday and continues until 11pm on Thursday.

Chiltern Railways, which operates services between Birmingham and London Marylebone, has alerted passengers to anticipate “significant disruption” due to the blistering conditions. Services are expected to be severely curtailed, with the operator cautioning that trains may face disruption, substantial delays and extremely crowded conditions.

Passengers holding tickets for Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday are allowed to use them on Friday, Saturday or Sunday instead. Refunds will also be available for those who decide not to travel at all.

A red warning from the Met Office signifies the highest level of alert, signalling that dangerous weather conditions are imminent. Besides major travel disruption, the extreme weather could also pose a threat to health and potentially put lives at risk, especially for those deemed vulnerable.