Extreme UK weather: flights halted as runways melt and temperatures exceed 38C in parts of England – as it happened
This blog is now closed. You can see our latest story on the extreme heat here
Speed restrictions imposed on trains amid fears of rails buckling in the heat could more than double journey times for passengers, the chief spokesman for Network Rail has said.
Kevin Groves told Sky News that trips which typically take two hours could take more than four hours" as emergency measures have been brought in to prevent trains derailing.
He said:
Certainly later on today that (buckling) is a strong possibility, which is why, from about midday today through till 8pm tonight, there will be large swathes of England and Wales that will have emergency heat-related speed restrictions placed on the rail network.
Our advice to passengers if they can, today and tomorrow, is only travel if it's really necessary; otherwise try and shift your arrangements to later in the week and you'll get a full refund.
We've been given advice in the NHS, we'll do all that we can, but the problem is this is about resilience, isn't it?
The NHS has [...] got an estate that is crumbling, so many are not the kind of buildings that have got the adaptability to these kinds of challenges.
Continue reading...