THE heatwave is expected to cause disruption for rail passengers as they are urged to travel by train only if their journey is essential.
Great Western Railway (GWR) is warning of amended train services on Wednesday and Thursday as a result of a rare red extreme heat warning from the Met Office.
GWR operates services from Foregate Street, Shrub Hill, and Worcestershire Parkway, including services to London Paddington, Oxford, Bristol, Cardiff, and the Cotswolds.
However, reduced services are expected, especially during the hottest parts of the day, as high temperatures can cause rails to expand and increase the risk of buckling.
Daryn McCombe, performance director at GWR and Network Rail, said: “We want to keep our customers safe during this period of extreme heat, which is why we are taking the precautionary step of amending services at the hottest times of day.
“We know this is disruptive and we’re sorry for the inconvenience it will cause, but customer safety must come first.
“We’d encourage everyone planning to travel on Wednesday and Thursday to travel earlier in the week or later, allow extra time and bring water with them.”
Passengers are being advised to check their journeys before travelling, as reduced services may affect journey times and last-minute cancellations are possible.
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The warning particularly affects parts of the Thames Valley, including routes through Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford.
Trains on slower relief lines between London and Reading may see changes, including adjusted stopping patterns to reduce the use of track points and lower the risk of infrastructure failures.
GWR says it will run the majority of its services, but some trains may only start appearing in journey planners on the day of travel due to the short notice changes.
Older regional trains are also more vulnerable to prolonged heat, with a higher risk of failures in engines and cooling systems.
Customers are advised to carry water and, if they are waiting for a train and feel unwell due to the heat, to speak to a member of staff, who will be able to help.
Tickets for June 24 and 25 can be used on travel days between June 22 and 26 to give customers more flexibility during the disruption.
Further updates and journey information will be available at GWR.com.
Passengers are strongly encouraged to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary and to take precautions if they do need to travel on affected days.
