Heatwave hell as passengers are 'slow cooked' on stuck trains for hours amid 34C heat - before being forced to walk down tracks to freedom
Terrified passengers had to be freed from stuck ThamesLink trains by police and were forced to walk down the tracks in sizzling 34C heat.
Enraged customers travelling on the services say they felt like they were 'in an oven' and being 'slow cooked' as the services came to a halt 'no air conditioning' or ventilation.
It is believed numerous trains were stopped due to faults, but a series of images shows one service heading for south London being evacuated.
The operator confirmed on a social media post that their services were facing issues.
They posted: 'Due to a fault on a train between London Blackfriars and Herne Hill, some lines are blocked. We're working to gather more information on this incident.'
They added that their 'services across the network are experiencing significant disruption'.
It comes as weather experts warned much of the UK could be soaked as soon as 5pm this evening.
Met Office forecasters have warned that while record-breaking temperatures look set to be reached today, Britons should also prepare for a substantial downpour in the aftermath.
This week has already seen thermometers surpass 30C across much of the UK, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all recording their warmest days of the year on Friday.
And that blistering heat has continued into today, which is the official end of spring.
Thousands of people watched the sunrise over Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice this morning.
Those who gathered for the spectacle at the neolithic monument in Wiltshire braved a warm start to the morning as they marked the year's longest day.
Temperatures in Salisbury and Greater London reached 18C by 5am, according to the Met Office.
The weather bureau confirmed that Yeovilton in Somerset and Crosby in Merseyside recorded the highest overnight temperatures in England, both reaching 19.7C by 6am on Saturday.
Towns in Cumbria and Lancashire also recorded temperatures above 19C.
An amber heat-health alert for all regions in England remains in place for the weekend, but a warning for thunder has been issued.
Spanning the north Midlands to Northumberland, including north-east Wales, downpours, hail, lightning and gusty winds are predicted from 3pm today until the early hours of tomorrow.
The Met Office warned of 'sudden flooding' which could see communities 'cut off', transport disruption and power cuts.
The hot weather is poised to linger in the South and East through the weekend. An amber heat health alert – to warn healthcare providers – lasts until Monday.
Elsewhere, temperatures are set to fall from tomorrow to the high teens or low 20s.
It follows a World Weather Attribution (WWA) research group study published on Friday which found the heatwave has been made around 100 times more likely and 2-4C hotter due to climate change.
Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, lecturer at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, said: 'Heatwaves are silent killers - people who lose their lives in them typically have pre-existing health conditions and rarely have heat listed as a contributing cause of death.
'This real-time analysis reveals the hidden toll of heatwaves and we want it to help raise the alarm.
'Heatwaves are an underappreciated threat in the UK and they're becoming more dangerous with climate change.'
An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK.
The Met Office confirmed that 'many places' in England and 'one or two areas' in Wales, including Cardiff, entered a heatwave on Friday.
There will also be very high UV and pollen levels across the country on Saturday, the forecaster said.
The amber heat-health alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the first time since September 2023, is in force until 9am on Monday.
It warns 'significant impacts are likely' across health and social care services because of high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions.
Following the hot weather, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) urged the public to take heat and water safety seriously.
During 2022's heatwave, temperatures rose past 40C, leading to 320 people being treated in hospital.
Steve Cole, policy director at RoSPA, said: 'Heat is no longer just a holiday perk - it's a growing public health risk.
'We're seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities.
'Warm weather can also be deceptive when it comes to going for a dip.
'While the air may feel hot, water temperatures often remain dangerously cold, which can lead to cold-water shock, even in summer.'
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Britain swelters on hottest day of the year as temperatures soar towards 34C and experts say 600 will die in roasting heatwave
Sunglasses, sun cream and umbrellas are out in full force today, as sweltering Brits continue to be gripped by blistering weather as the temperatures continue to soar. Today has become the hottest day of the year so far with parts of eastern England set to be basking in sizzling temperatures of 34C. But it's not all sunshine and smiles as an amber heat-health alert has been issued for the whole weekend across England, as experts warn nearly 600 people in England and Wales could die in upcoming heatwaves. Parts of England and Wales experienced heatwaves yesterday, while Northern Ireland its warmest June night on record with temperatures staying above 18.2C until Saturday morning, the Met Office said. Elsewhere in London, terrified passengers were stuck in heatwave hell as customers said they felt like they were being 'slow cooked' in 'an oven' when services came to a halt with no air conditioning or ventilation. Early this morning, large crowds gathered at Stonehenge for the annual summer solstice, with temperatures soaring 18C by 5am for those observing the annual spectacle. But ice-cream and hot weather aren't the only items on the menu, as stormy weather threatens to put a screeching halt to the sweltering sunshine with a yellow thunderstorm warning on the horizon. Northern England, from Nottingham to above Newcastle, have been issued a yellow thunderstorm warning, which will come into force from 5pm until 3am tomorrow. The Met Office warned the most intense storms could produce 'frequent lightning, large hail and gusty winds', along with a chance of flooding. Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said: 'There are scattered thunderstorms coming through. 'Some of the rain could be quite intense, and frequent lightning, hail, gusty winds and some heavy downpours, which we haven't seen for a while. 'Some of the ground is quite hard at the moment, and when you get heavy rain hitting hard ground, it can cause surface water issues. 'You might find surface water on the roads, drains finding it difficult to cope and a small chance of homes being flooded.' An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. It comes after the Met Office confirmed that 'many places' in England and 'one or two areas' in Wales, including Cardiff, entered a heatwave on Friday. Aidan McGovern, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'At the moment, the temperatures will be highest towards the east, [with] lower temperatures in the west compared with Friday but still high humidity. 'So, it's going to feel oppressive in many places, and [there is] always a chance of some showers developing as the day progresses, particularly towards the west. 'Temperatures [will be] peaking at 31 to 33, or 34C, somewhere between London and Midlands and north-east England.' There will also be very high UV and pollen levels across the country on Saturday, the forecaster said. The Met Office also warned of more of heavy downpour battering parts of the country later this evening. Ellie Glaisyer, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'We do have a yellow warning in place for thunderstorms for the very far north of Wales, northern parts of England and in the very south east of Scotland. 'That warning is in place from 5pm this evening until 3am tomorrow. We could see around 30 to 40mm of rain falling in a couple of hours as well as some strong winds. 'These could be around 40 to 55 mph and some frequent lighting and large hail could be experienced in that warning area. 'There is a chance we could see some heavier downpour elsewhere, particularly across the south east of England in the early hours of the morning and in the north west of the country.' BERKSHIRE: Two kayakers stop off at Whiitington's Tea Barge to buy cans of beer on a hot and humid afternoon The forecaster also added there could be 'the odd rumble of thunder' across the north and west of the country. Ms Glaisyer added: 'Generally tomorrow it'll be a lot fresher with temperatures much closer to average. 'The south east will still hold onto those warm temperatures for a little while longer and into next week.' It comes as nearly 600 people in England and Wales are predicted to die as a result of this week's heatwave, researchers found. Experts at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London used decades of UK data to predict excess mortality during the hot temperatures from Thursday to Sunday. Their study, released on last week, forecasts that around 570 people will die because of the heat over the four days, with the excess deaths estimated to peak at 266 on Saturday when the heat will be at its most intense. London is predicted to have the greatest number of excess deaths with 129, as researchers say their assessment highlights how extreme heat poses a growing threat to public health in the UK. A amber heat-health alert was issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the first time since September 2023, and is currently in force until 9am on Monday. It warns 'significant impacts are likely' across health and social care services because of high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions. Following the hot weather, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) urged the public to take heat and water safety seriously. During 2022's heatwave, temperatures rose past 40C, leading to 320 people being treated in hospital. Steve Cole, policy director at RoSPA, said: 'Heat is no longer just a holiday perk - it's a growing public health risk. 'We're seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities. 'Warm weather can also be deceptive when it comes to going for a dip. 'While the air may feel hot, water temperatures often remain dangerously cold, which can lead to cold-water shock, even in summer.' Previously, World Weather Attribution (WWA) research group released a study which found a heatwave was about 100 times more likely and 2-4C hotter due to climate change. Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, lecturer at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, said: 'Heatwaves are silent killers - people who lose their lives in them typically have pre-existing health conditions and rarely have heat listed as a contributing cause of death. 'This real-time analysis reveals the hidden toll of heatwaves and we want it to help raise the alarm. 'Heatwaves are an underappreciated threat in the UK and they're becoming more dangerous with climate change.' It comes after temperatures reached 32.2C in Kew, west London, on Thursday, making it the warmest day of the year so far, while Friday saw highs of 30.8C recorded in both England and Wales.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Why do heatwaves in the UK feel worse than hot weather on holiday
It only happens a few times a year - but when Brits are faced with a heatwave at home we struggle to cope. While many of us enjoy soaking up the sun and its 30 degree heat in another country, the same can't really be said about when it happens in the UK. Even if temperatures don't reach as high as they do abroad, many of us seem to struggle more to deal with the heat at home. With temperatures reaching a high as 28.9 degrees in Scotland yesterday, and many parts of the country seeing mercury levels around the mid twenties today, according to the Met Office, quite a few of us did not feel equipped to deal with the unusual weather. Ahead of the heatwave, amber health alerts were issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), reports Manchester Evening News. These warned that the whole health service was "likely" to be impacted by high temperatures, with a "rise in deaths" to be expected. It is also said that heatwaves in the UK can carry a risk of wildfires, as well as a disruption to transport and power systems. But why do temperatures around 30 degrees in the UK at points feel unbearable, while the same temperature abroad would be described by many as a pleasant experience? If this is something you have pondered, there actually is a reason why the heat feels worse at home than on your holidays. One of the reasons for this is that other countries are better equipped for warmer weather in comparison to the UK. Meteorologist from the Met Office, Annie Shuttleworth, explained: "It is perhaps how heatwaves in the UK are perceived that makes them less manageable. "When we experience heat abroad, we're usually on holiday, and may be close to a pool or the beach. In general, buildings and infrastructure are also more set up for heat abroad – for example, there is more air conditioning." However, the difference is heat can also be hugely determined by the level of humidity. In 2021, the Met Office said: "The level of humidity can be higher in the UK than in continental Europe. If humidity is high, it is harder for the human body to keep cool as your sweat doesn't evaporate as quickly. "This is made worse given that we are experiencing more 'tropical nights' – nights where the temperature doesn't go below 20C, meaning we get no respite from the heat and time for our body to recover." In order for us to experience heat loss, the body relies on there being a temperature gradient between us and air. However, this process is made harder the hotter it is outside. Therefore, sweating is really important as it can naturally cool us down through the process of evaporation. Yet, this can be hindered due to the humidity impacting how our sweat evaporates. Meteorologist Dr Matthew Patterson said: "Sweating cools you down because when the water evaporates it transfers energy away from your body. However, sweating is less effective if there is already a lot of moisture in the air." Therefore, when we experience more humid heat in the UK, it can feel significantly hotter than experiencing it in a different climate. Additionally, this explains why the UK may receive a variety of health and weather warnings when temperatures start moving into the 30s. Climate expert Professor Hannah Cloke says: "Forecasters and health agencies measure and forecast the effects of temperature, humidity and windspeed on the human body in terms of a 'feels like' temperature, or with indicators such as the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). "Two regions might have identical temperatures, but one might feel OK, while the other leaves people dangerously overheated. Measures like the UTCI can provide planners with a much better understanding of where and when the impacts of a heatwave will be felt." So it seems that Brits aren't just complaining about the heat, there really is a difference in the UK compared to our go-to holiday destinations. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Major evacuation as 1,500 passengers ‘trapped on train for 2 hours with no air con' in sweltering heat
People were led onto the tracks to fend for themselves RAIL CHAOS Major evacuation as 1,500 passengers 'trapped on train for 2 hours with no air con' in sweltering heat Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HORRIFIED Brits were evacuated after being trapped on a train for two hours with no air con. Weary passengers have slammed Thamelink after their morning service from Bedford to Brighton came to a screeching halt on the hottest day of the year. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Fuming passengers were forced to wait in carriages with no aircon for two hours Credit: Twitter 4 The train broke down between Elephant and Castle, and Loughborough Credit: Twitter 4 Everyone was evacuated onto the tracks Credit: Twitter The train broke down between Elephant and Castle, and Loughborough - but ticketholders were left waiting in their carriages during the sweltering heat today. There was no air conditioning, and a major evacuation was eventually carried out after several hours. People were led onto the tracks to fend for themselves, and claimed they were given no instruction on where to go next. One passenger fumed on X: "Absolutely disgraceful from Thameslink Bedford to Brighton service train broke down the passengers left sweltering for almost two hours before being taken off in the middle of nowhere with no direction all left to their own." Another ranted: "Stuck on train to Brighton between Elephant & Castle & Loughborough junction past 20 minutes, rammed with people, hottest day of the year why are there no aircon and no windows that can be opened? there is no ventilation. "Medical issues waiting to happen." A third vented: "[Thameslink] you will have hell to pay. We've been stuck on this hot and humid train for over an hour. "The doors were closed because we were told we may be moving. That was 15 minutes ago. It's like an oven in here and we're being slow cooked." A spokesperson for the train operator initially wrote: "Due to a fault on a train between London Blackfriars and Herne Hill, some lines are blocked. We're working to gather more information on this incident." In a separate reply to another passenger, they said: "We are aware of your location (and the lack of working A/C on the train) and are working with response teams to get you moving as soon as possible. "Please do not attempt to self evacuate as the tracks are still live." In a statement to MailOnline, Thameslink confirmed: "Earlier today, a fault on a train near Loughborough Junction brought all services to a halt in the area, three of them outside station platforms. "Without power and air conditioning on such a hot day, we pulled all resources from across Sussex and Kent to get personnel on site to safely evacuate passengers as quickly as possible along the track. "This would have been a difficult and uncomfortable experience for our passengers and we are truly sorry. "With safety our top priority, the safest place was to remain on the trains while we worked our hardest to get help to those on board. "There is engineering work taking place today, which means this is the only route Thameslink trains can take south out of London and severe disruption is expected for the rest of the afternoon. "Anyone travelling south of London is currently advised to use Southern services from Victoria but you should check the latest travel advice at "Passengers delayed by 15 minutes or more are also entitled to compensation, with details on our website." A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "We were called at 11.46am today to assist around 1,500 railway passengers who are on board two trains which are stranded near Loughborough Junction station. "The power to the railway line has been isolated and crews are currently working alongside staff from Network Rail to lead the passengers from the trains to the station. "Around 25 firefighters are currently in attendance." British Transport Police added: 'Officers were called to Loughborough Junction Railway Station at just before 11am today (21 June) to reports of a train broken down nearby. "Officers assisted Thameslink and Network Rail and all passengers have been evacuated safely.' This comes as an amber heat health alert has been issued for the whole of England until 9am on Monday. The alert - a step up from the yellow heat health alert issued earlier this week - warned that "significant impacts are likely" across health and social care services because of high temperatures. But, the Met Office has also warned of thunderstorms across northern parts of England today. A yellow thunderstorm weather warning is in place from Nottingham up to above Newcastle. It will come into force from 3pm and last until 4am on Sunday. The Met Office warned there could be "frequent lightning, large hail and gusty winds", along with a chance of flooding. Parts of eastern England could climb higher than the 32.2C seen on Thursday and become the hottest day of the year so far. Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said: "There are scattered thunderstorms coming through. "Some of the rain could be quite intense, and frequent lightning, hail, gusty winds and some heavy downpours, which we haven't seen for a while. "Some of the ground is quite hard at the moment, and when you get heavy rain hitting hard ground, it can cause surface water issues. "You might find surface water on the roads, drains finding it difficult to cope and a small chance of homes being flooded." It comes after hundreds headed out early this morning to watch the sunrise over Stonehenge in celebration of the summer solstice. Those who marked the year's longest day elsewhere experienced 18C temperatures in Salisbury and Greater London by 5am, according to the Met Office. The weather agency also confirmed that Yeovilton in Somerset and Crosby in Merseyside had the highest recorded overnight figures in England, both reaching 19.7C by 6am. The mercury in Cumbria and Lancashire also reached highs above 19C. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. Aidan McGovern, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "At the moment, the temperatures will be highest towards the east, [with] lower temperatures in the west compared with Friday but still high humidity, so it's going to feel oppressive in many places, and [there is] always a chance of some showers developing as the day progresses, particularly towards the west. "Temperatures [will be] peaking at 31 to 33, or 34C, somewhere between London and Midlands and north-east England." 4 Passengers claimed they were left to fend for themselves on the tracks Credit: Twitter More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
