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Thursday 25 Jun 2026

Reduced train services to be extended into Friday as heatwave continues

Region & Route:

North West & Central: Central

| North West & Central

A plea for passengers across the West Midlands and Chiltern areas to only travel if absolutely necessary has been extended into Friday after the Met Office's weather warning was extended.

Rail users have already been urged to only make necessary journeys today (Thursday 25 June) within the current red weather warning zone.

This message now applies on Friday 26 June within an amber weather warning area as forecasts predict high temperatures will continue.

All railway lines across the West Midlands and Chiltern area will remain open for those who must travel, but train operators will be running amended timetables until the end of Friday 26 June.

This will help keep trains moving and manage the impact of extreme temperatures on the railway. Passengers should also expect stations and trains to be busier than usual.

Denise Wetton, Network Rail's Central route director, said: "With weather warnings still in place for extremely hot weather, some services across the West Midlands and Chiltern network will now be reduced until the end of Friday. While all railway lines will remain open, running fewer trains will help us manage the impact of the hot weather and keep passengers and colleagues safe.

"We strongly advise customers to think carefully about their plans and only travel if it’s absolutely necessary in the areas most affected by the highest temperatures. If you do need to travel, please allow extra time, carry water to stay hydrated and be prepared for services to be busier than usual."

Extreme temperatures can affect railway infrastructure, requiring trains to run more slowly so services can continue to operate safely. As well as a reduced timetable, some trains may operate at reduced speeds.

Passengers should expect journeys to take longer and there is a greater risk of delays, cancellations and short-notice alterations during this period. Rail replacement services will not be available.

Network Rail does everything it can to prepare the network throughout the year so that we can keep the railway running in hot weather – using a combination of proactive monitoring and investment in smart technologies, like remote sensors and innovative cooling solutions, to protect critical infrastructure.

But when extreme heat hits – as is true across many areas of the world – the likelihood of disruption increases as the rising temperatures can adversely affect the tracks, power and signalling systems, and ground conditions, leading to rails expanding, overhead lines sagging, and infrastructure potentially failing.

On a 30C day, steel tracks can reach more than 50C at ground level

Passengers making essential journeys, and anyone travelling outside of the amber weather warning areas on Friday, should check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk.