Get you up to speed: Commuters warned after extreme heat alert activated ahead of 38°C temperatures | News UK
The Met Office has issued extreme amber heat warnings across London, the South East, East of England, and the East Midlands, as the UK endures its fifth heatwave with temperatures potentially reaching up to 38°C. Rail services are expected to face disruptions, with several companies advising passengers to only travel if essential due to the exceptionally high temperatures.
An amber heat warning is in effect from 9am today until midnight, covering multiple regions including London and the South East. Train services across various operators, including Chiltern Railways and East Midlands Railway, are being disrupted, with reduced timetables in place and a strong recommendation for passengers to limit travel to essential trips only.
The Met Office has issued an amber heat warning, predicting temperatures could rise as high as 38°C across parts of the UK, particularly in London and the East Midlands. In response, rail operators, including Chiltern Railways and East Midlands Railway, are advising passengers to travel only if essential and have implemented reduced schedules to manage the heat’s impact on services.
What remains unclear — It is not confirmed how long the extreme heatwave and its associated disruptions will last across the UK.
Commuters advised to check travel plans as heat alert issues ahead of 38°C temperatures
Another hot spell has landed in the UK and it could push temperatures in parts of the country up to 38°C.
The fifth heatwave is underway with Met Office’s extreme amber heat warnings active from 9am today until midnight due to the scorching weather front.
London, the South East, East of England and East Midlands are set to feel the brunt of the heatwave, with temperatures remaining high for the rest of the week.
Heat health alerts are also in place, covering all of England as the temperatures are likely to impact the health and wellbeing of people.
Rail disruption warning
Several train companies have said they are likely to be hit by disruption due to the weather, and many have told passengers to only travel if essential.
Extreme heat can cause on-the-ground railway temperatures to top 50°C and rail to buckle. This is why stretches of railway, especially in direct sun, can have speed restrictions in place and fewer trains might be scheduled.
Chiltern Railways is operating on a reduced timetable between 11am and 8pm as a result to ensure a ‘reliable service’ can be provided ‘during the hottest part of the day’.
Michael Stewart, from Chiltern Railways, said: ‘If you do need to travel, please check your journey before setting out, allow extra time and carry water with you to stay hydrated.’
He added that customers should travel ‘only if it’s essential on Thursday because of the exceptionally high temperatures forecast across our network’.
Stewart hopes that the minimised schedule will provide more ‘comfort’ for travellers.
Full list of rail companies impacted by hot weather
Here are all the train operators which have announced planned service changes due to weather this week.
- c2c
- Chiltern Railways
- CrossCountry
- East Midlands Railway
- Great Western Railway
- Northern
- Transport for Wales
- West Midlands Railway
Today, off-peak services between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street will be running hourly, with some services between London Marylebone and Oxford cancelled.
Latest heatwave news and guidance
To get the latest news on the hot weather, visit WTX’s heatwave hub.
Chiltern Railways will not run any services from Birmingham Snow Hill after 10.15am.
Shuttle services from Leamington Spa to Birmingham Moor Street will only run until 11am.
Should customers no longer wish to travel tomorrow, full fee-free refunds are available from their point of purchase, the operator has confirmed.
Alternatively, tickets dated for tomorrow can be used on Friday or Saturday.
Rail chaos continues throughout the UK, with other operators suspending numerous services this week including East Midlands Railway (EMR), which has also advised only ‘essential’ journeys tomorrow.
EMR confirmed that regional services between Sheffield and Liverpool will be suspended on Thursday, while services between Nottingham and Worksop and between Nottingham and Leicester will be suspended after 12pm.
Customers have been encouraged to travel before midday where possible and to expect longer journeys and increased risk of short-notice changes, with providers asking for ‘patience and understanding’.
Temperatures haven’t risen above 3638°C in August for six years, with 36.438°C recorded at Heathrow and Kew Gardens in 2020.
It comes amid reports that 2026 is looking likely to be the hottest summer on record, while nearly three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales are in drought due to the driest July yet.