Rail passengers have been warned that major service disruptions could occur in the coming days due to the heat wave,
Temperatures of up to 37°C are expected in London early next week, and warm weather can lead to track temperatures as high as 50°C.
This allows them to bend, bend and in some cases even kink from the heat, with direct sunlight being a particular risk.
Trains will then also be told to slow down in order to put less strain on them, but even then, problems can arise.
Avanti West Coast, which operates services between London Euston and Scotland warned passengers to plan ahead.
They said there could be cancellations and longer travel times at short notice.
The company tweeted today that weekend services on July 16 and July 17 may be canceled at short notice.
It also warned that services on July 18 and July 19 will be subject to schedule changes and longer travel times.
Steel rails absorb heat easily and tend to hover around 20 degrees above the ambient air temperature, according to Network Rail.
James Dean, Network Rail’s South Coast Director, said: “Keeping passengers moving is always our top priority. But we want people to be prepared.
“If rising temperatures require us to set lower speeds for safety reasons, please bear with us while our engineers work to resolve the issue. Some trips may take longer.
“For those who have to travel by train, we want to remind people to carry some water with them so they can stay hydrated and always check before traveling so they know exactly what to expect.”
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