Railway speed restrictions have been brought in across most of England and Wales as record temperatures could affect the safety of steel tracks. Trains will mostly be limited to speeds of 90mph, down from 100mph or 125mph, while some will go as slow as 20mph.
The Met Office has issued a red extreme heat warning in England, with amber warnings in Scotland and Wales. When steel gets very hot it expands and tracks can bend, flex, and, in serious cases, buckle, Network Rail said. Many train companies will be running reduced timetables and passengers are being advised to check before they depart. The RAC motoring group has also warned some roads could melt as a result of the heat. Services on the West Coast Mainline will be limited to 90mph, with operator Avanti West Coast warning there would be “far fewer” journeys.
Meanwhile, the East Coast Mainline between London and York and Leeds will be closed between 12:00 and 20:00 BST on Tuesday. It is because the line is more susceptible to high temperatures than others, for reasons including the design of the overhead electric wire supports. Separately, the RAC has warned that high temperatures are expected to lead to a “huge increase” in vehicle breakdowns, with “potentially over 1,000 more a day than is normal for mid-July”.
