UK rail disruptions from heat

In late July, South Western Railway introduced a temporary timetable on the West of England line between London Waterloo and Exeter after record‑breaking temperatures dried out clay embankments, forcing speed restrictions and reduced service frequency. The operator highlighted the growing climate‑related challenges for rail infrastructure.

A few days later, heat‑related problems persisted across the network. An overhead‑line fault near Waterbeach forced Great Northern to curtail services between London King’s Cross and King’s Lynn, limiting trains to a shuttle between Cambridge and King’s Lynn. Simultaneously, South Western Railway altered its Surrey timetable, cancelling several Portsmouth line services and diverting others because of forecast 32 °C temperatures. The incidents illustrate how extreme heat continued to strain UK rail operations, prompting both emergency service reductions and broader timetable adjustments.