Europe steps up to shield railways and roads from record heat

Record-breaking temperatures across Western Europe are causing rail tracks to buckle, roads to soften and power grids to strain. Nations are deploying a mix of high‑tech and low‑tech measures to protect ageing infrastructure. At Oslo Airport, workers sprayed about 9,000 litres of water on the runway and tested a new heat‑resistant asphalt, while Stockholm’s transport authority painted sections of metro track white to reflect heat.

Across the continent, operators are using drones and AI‑powered sensors to monitor tracks more frequently, and the UK’s Network Rail has pledged £2.6 billion of investment through 2029 to harden its network. Experts warn that without action, severe weather could cut euro‑zone GDP by up to 4.7 % by 2030, and more than 70 % of rail managers already report rising disruptions from extreme heat and related storms.