Ritin’s railways are “just not built” to cope with next week’s heat wave, experts warn, amid fears the temperature could hit 40C.
Passengers have been advised not to travel as delays and cancellations were likely, with one company cutting its services in half to: London.
Trains will limit their speeds for fear that tracks will collapse under the extreme temperatures, meaning journeys that continue are expected to be “significantly longer.”
The Met Office issued its first-ever red heat warning this week for much of Englandincluding London, for Monday and Tuesday.
Network Rail Route Director Gary Walsh said: “The railway in this country is just not designed to run normally in such extreme temperatures.
“We have additional teams on the route, ready to respond to any incidents, but with temperatures set to break all records, we also need to reduce the speed at which trains can run.
“This reduces the risk of tracks bending due to the heat and also ensures that if the overhead wire expands, it does not become entangled in passing trains.”
Network Rail, which operates 20,000 miles of track in the UK, advised people in England and Wales to travel alone “where necessary” and said that travel would “take considerably more time”.
Passengers should wear cool clothes, bring handheld fans and pack a water bottle.
East Midlands Railway has shortened the timetable for London, where temperatures are expected to peak next week.
Only one train per hour runs between the capital and Sheffield, Nottingham and Corby, compared to the normal two.
Transport for London has not given commuters advice, but Mayor Sadiq Khan said the “dangerous” heat levels would likely have “an impact on travel”.
Temperatures in Scotland are predicted to be less extreme, although the Met Office has issued an orange heat warning for southern parts of the country.
The TransPennine Express, which runs between northern England and Scotland, said journeys would “take longer than usual” and warned of further disruption.
Network Rail asked customers in Scotland to check their trains before traveling and to take “sensible precautions”.