TfL has warned of significant disruption to rail and Tube services amid a rare red warning for extreme heat, urging passengers to only travel if absolutely essential on Wednesday and Thursday.
Red warning issued for multiple regions
The Met Office has issued a red warning for extreme heat affecting the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and East of England. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued a red health alert from 1am Wednesday until 11pm Thursday.
National Rail has advised commuters across the UK to only travel if essential during the warning period. Jake Kelly, deputy chief executive of Network Rail, said: "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."
Elizabeth Line and Overground most affected
Claire Mann, TfL's chief operating officer, said: "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."
Bus services are expected to run as normal, but TfL encourages passengers to carry water. Chiltern Railways, running services between Birmingham and London Marylebone, has warned of significant disruption and drastically reduced services. Passengers with tickets for Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday can use them on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, or request refunds.
