The railway company, which serves Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Berkshire and London, said the rising heat would put pressure on its lines from today, when the mercury will warm to around 33C. Network Rail has said that direct sunlight can heat the tracks up to 20C more than the air temperature. Because they are made of steel, they expand as they get hotter and can warp, which could disrupt service. Thermometers will record temperatures of around 40°C this weekend, prompting the railway company’s advance warning.
Services may be canceled at the last minute or speed limits may need to be implemented in the interest of passenger safety.
This will be especially relevant on Sunday, July 17, when the heat wave will reach dangerous heights.
Temperatures will reach the late 30s and reach nearly 40C by Monday, triggering a rare amber extreme heat warning from the Met Office.
The forecaster says: “Delays on roads and road closures are possible, along with delays and cancellations of rail and air travel, with the potential for significant welfare problems for those experiencing even moderate delays.”
Despite Network Rail taking precautions, the heat will sometimes force entire line closures as technicians come down to perform emergency repairs.
This, in turn, stops trains from traveling and can cause widespread disruption as workers have to wait for track temperatures to drop before getting close.
And the travel chaos won’t just be confined to the ground, as queues at Heathrow Airport show no signs of slowing down in the face of massive flight cancellations.
At the moment they have nothing to do with the weather, but the Met Office has warned that problems could arise, especially as the hottest temperatures are often recorded at Heathrow.
READ MORE: Chaos at Heathrow: 61 flights canceled in one day because airport can’t handle it
Passengers are urged to carry bottled water with them when traveling to avoid the risk of becoming unwell due to the heat.
Those who begin to feel bad on board a train should get off and talk to platform staff about seeking help so that the services can keep moving.
Bosses also ask people not to pull the passenger alarm unless absolutely necessary.
A statement from South Western Railway added: “Network Rail engineers will monitor the temperature of the track around the network. Services can be changed to allow trains to be used to inspect the line and staff will be quickly deployed across the network.” our network that is ready to intervene if rail conditions go bad are reported.
“There are currently no speed limits in effect.”
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The operator also said there is a risk of line fires as the mercury warms.
Temperatures will peak at 33C today before turning slightly cooler towards the end of the week.
But this temporary relief will be short-lived, as Sunday and Monday will be record days, with the Met Office warning people to adjust their daily routines to the abnormally high temperatures.
This unpleasant dampness will be felt across the country, with an orange weather warning to more than 85 local authorities.