Heatwave: West Midlands Railway passengers encouraged to only travel if essential

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Friday, 15 July 2022

Heatwave: West Midlands Railway passengers encouraged to only travel if essential

Passengers travelling on West Midlands Railway (WMR) services have been encouraged to only travel if essential on Monday 18 July and Tuesday 19 July as high temperatures hit the country.

The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for extreme heat, with temperatures set to reach 37°C on Monday and Tuesday.

Extremely hot temperatures can deem railway tracks unsafe, as steel is easily able to absorb heat. Overhead electrical cable wires are also susceptible to high temperatures.

As a result, speed restrictions and reduced timetables will be in place for safety reasons.

A West Midlands Railway spokesperson said:

“With such hot weather forecast for early next week, we are encouraging passengers to only travel on Monday and Tuesday if their journey is absolutely necessary. Speed restrictions and reduced timetables will be in place across our services on these days, so we are expecting disruption.

“If journeys are essential, we urge passengers to check before they travel and plan ahead, including ensuring they stay hydrated. Revised timetables will be confirmed as soon as possible.”

Background

About West Midlands Trains

For further information on this release, email [email protected]

West Midlands Trains operates both West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway services.

  • London Northwestern Railway services operate between Liverpool and Birmingham, and on the West Coast Main Line to and from London Euston.
  • West Midlands Railway services operate to destinations across the West Midlands via Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill.

For more information on these services visit westmidlandsrailway.co.uk or londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk

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