Latest news with #speedrestrictions
The Guardian
04-08-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
Rail services in parts of England are cut as tracks are disturbed by lack of moisture
Rail services in parts of southern England are being reduced because embankments have shrunk and disturbed the track after the sunniest spring in more than a century. Trains are unable to travel at full speed over embankments in Dorset and Devon that have contracted because of a lack of moisture in the soil. In the latest example of extreme weather affecting the UK's rail infrastructure, South Western Railway said it had no alternative but to reduce the number of trains running for a safe and reliable service. Journeys from London Waterloo to Exeter will take an hour longer, with trains running at 40mph instead of 85mph for sections of the route. This year has seen the second driest spring on record for England, with the least amount of rainfall since 1976. The lack of moisture has caused embankments to shrink on a 12-mile stretch of track between Gillingham in Dorset and Axminster in Devon. The speed restrictions on the single-track route means trains cannot pass at the usual times and places, and SWR said it had been forced to cut services from the schedule. The operator warned that dry conditions were likely to continue and that further speed restrictions could be needed. SWR's chief operating officer, Stuart Meek, said: 'We are very sorry for the disruption that customers will experience due to this change, as we know just how important the West of England line is to the communities it serves. 'We have not taken this decision lightly … However, to continue operating a safe and reliable service, we have no alternative but to introduce a reduced timetable. Network Rail's operations director, Tom Desmond, said: 'The safety of our customers is our number one priority, which is why we must impose these speed restrictions. We will regularly review conditions in order to restore the normal timetable as soon as possible.' Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion The changing climate has caused a number of problems for the railway in recent years, including the need to impose speed restrictions in extreme summer heat for fear of buckling rails. Train services were meanwhile cut back in Kent last year after the wettest winters on record also affected tracks and embankments. Network Rail is spending almost £3bn over the period 2024-29 to tackle the effects of climate change, having already increased its budget to maintain earthworks in the wake of the Stonehaven disaster, when heavy rain and poor drainage led to a landslip.
Telegraph
03-08-2025
- Climate
- Telegraph
Trains cancelled because it is too dry
A train company has blamed dry weather for its decision to cancel services. South Western Railway (SWR) has said the 'driest conditions for around 200 years' have forced it to halve the amount of trains that run from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids from Aug 11. The dry conditions forced the speed limit between Gillingham, Dorset and Axminster, Devon to be reduced after the tracks between the two towns dried out, shrinking the clay soil embankments that support them. The problem, known as a 'moisture soil deficit', means trains between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids will run every two hours rather than hourly. Trains between Waterloo and Yeovil Junction will also be delayed by 25 minutes. SWR has not said when the restrictions will be lifted and further dry weather could lead to more speed restrictions being introduced. An SWR spokesperson said: 'Because track levels have been disturbed, our trains cannot travel safely at their normal speeds. 'Most of the route west of Salisbury is made of single track, with only a small number of places for trains travelling in opposite directions to pass each other. 'With speed restrictions stretching over 12 miles, trains will not be able to pass each other at their allotted times, and so it will not be possible to run services to the normal timetable. 'Our amended timetables have been designed to provide customers with a reliable service until the speed restrictions can be removed.' SWR announced that once soil moisture levels improve and the ground begins to rehydrate then engineers will be able to stabilise the embankments and restore the track levels. Once this is done, the timetable will go back to normal, SWR have said. Storm Floris to bring gales and rain The restrictions come as Storm Floris is set to bring travel chaos to Britain with powerful winds and rain forecast for Monday. Amber weather warnings have been issued for most of Scotland, lasting from 10am to 10pm, while a yellow alert for wind is in place for northern parts of England from 6am on Monday to 6pm on Tuesday. National Rail warned there could be delays and cancellations on the railway on Monday and high winds could topple trees and damage power lines. LNER, the train operator, has warned passengers not to travel north of Newcastle on Monday as a result of the forecast. Those intending to travel on Monday can do so on Sunday, the operator said, with tickets also valid until Wednesday. Avanti West Coast advised passengers not to travel north of Preston on Monday as it expects its Scottish-English routes to be 'heavily affected' by Storm Floris. The operator said services will probably be impacted in Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Haymarket, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh. Tickets dated for Monday for these areas will be accepted on Sunday and Tuesday, it added.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Delays across UK rail network after heatwave causes speed restrictions
Trains in England will continue to run under speed restrictions today as temperatures soar to highs of 35C in the UK. Passengers travelling on the Brighton Main Line have been warned to check before they travel this week as speed restrictions slow down rail journeys on Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services. The speed restrictions were put in place at the weekend through to Tuesday evening (1 July) as track temperatures neared 50C. On Sunday (29 June), Network Rail Kent and Sussex said on X/Twitter: 'Rail temperatures are predicted to soar with the mercury expected to hit 50C on the track itself, which means that we need to impose blanket speed restrictions on part of the Brighton Main Line to ensure everyone's safety. The speed restriction will be in place on both Monday and Tuesday.' Trains running between London Paddington towards the west, including Great Western Railway (GWR) services, are also subject to longer journey times and potential cancellations as temperatures rise. A GWR spokesperson said the speed restrictions imposed west of Paddington were likely to mean a 10 to 15 minute delay on most trains, reported The Guardian. Elsewhere, National Rail travel advice says: 'Between approximately 10:00 and 19:00 today, an emergency speed restriction will be in place between East Croydon and Burgess Hill due to predicted high track temperatures.' Between these stations, trains may be delayed by 'up to 20 minutes or revised'. Gatwick Express services will also only run between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport, with most Southern services from London Victoria towards Littlehampton terminating at West Worthing, said National Rail. According to the Network Rail website, speed restrictions are used in hot weather as 'railway tracks can heat up to 50 degrees and risk buckling – which is unsafe for trains to pass over'. It adds: 'By slowing trains down, they exert lower forces on the track, reducing the chance of this happening.' Network Rail's industry weather response director, Lisa Angus, said: 'Trains run on steel rails, which expand in the heat. While air temperatures are forecast to reach around 34C in London, which is tough for people, the temperatures of the tracks will be much higher. 'We paint sensitive parts of our railway white to reflect heat, but there is only so much that paint can achieve before we may have to take action to slow trains down in some places.' Restrictions are expected to stay until at least 10pm on Tuesday, according to railway managers. Network Rail said in a post on X/Twitter: 'With temperatures set to soar as forecast by the Met Office, speed restrictions have to be imposed across large parts of the network to ensure everyone's safety. 'We won't be able to run as many trains as normal, and journeys will take longer. Trains that are running will also be much busier. If you are able to work from home, then that may be your best option. 'If you do take the train, then please remember to take a bottle of water and if you begin to feel unwell, seek help at the next station and speak to station staff. Pulling emergency alarms onboard may delay us getting help to you.'
The Guardian
30-06-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
Speed restrictions imposed on two main train lines amid UK heatwave
The heatwave has started to have an impact on rail services in parts of southern Britain, with speed restrictions imposed on two main lines out of London due to soaring temperatures on the tracks. Passengers have been urged to check before travelling and warned to expect longer journeys and possible cancellations on routes west from London Paddington and south of the capital on the Brighton mainline. Restrictions were put in place at the weekend for the Brighton mainline through Monday and Tuesday, affecting Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services. Network Rail and train operators decided at midday on Monday to extend the speed restrictions to the western mainline, affecting primarily Great Western trains running to the south-west and south Wales. According to Network Rail, the temperatures exceeding 30C translate into 50C heat on the track, increasing the risk of failure. The speed restrictions imposed west of Paddington through the Thames valley area are likely to mean a 10-15 minute delay on most trains, according to a GWR spokesperson. The compounding delays are likely to mean disruption and cancellations as the day goes on. Straggling Glastonbury returnees could be caught in the delays. GWR said it had already picked up more than 6,000 festivalgoers from Castle Cary station on Monday morning. Restrictions are in place until 10pm on Monday. With temperatures on Tuesday expected to nudge higher, railway managers are likely to confirm speed restrictions for a further day. The heat has yet to reach the extremes of three years ago, when services across England and Wales were disrupted and under speed restrictions amid fears that rails would buckle. A spokesperson for Network Rail and the train operators said: 'With temperatures set to soar as forecast by the Met Office, speed restrictions have to be imposed across large parts of the network to ensure everyone's safety. Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion 'We're sorry but this means we won't be able to run as many trains as normal and journeys will take longer. Trains that are running will also be much busier. If you are able to work from home then that may be your best option. 'If you do take the train, then please remember to take a bottle of water and if you begin to feel unwell, seek help at the next station and speak to station staff. Pulling emergency alarms onboard may delay us getting help to you.' While passengers in northern England and Scotland have escaped the heat, those hoping to take the west coast mainline north of Carlisle to and from Glasgow have been unable to travel after a tree fell and blocked the line.
CTV News
23-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
O-Train running at reduced speeds as temperature soars above 30 C
An O-Train on Line 1 pulls into Bayview Station in this undated image. (Natalie van Rooy/CTV News Ottawa) Your train trip may be a little slower today, as both OC Transpo and VIA Rail implement speed restrictions due to the hot weather. A heat warning remains in effect for Ottawa today, with the temperature expected to hit 36 C. OC Transpo has temporary speed restrictions on O-Train Line 1, Line 2 and Line 4 due to the hot weather, the transit service tells CTV News Ottawa. OC Transpo says when the temperature climbs above 30 C, procedures are in place to safely run trains on above-round sections of the track. 'Safety is paramount and we take numerous precautions to ensure our trains and rail are protected during extreme temperatures,' OC Transpo says on its website. 'All railroads can experience sun kinks, and at OC Transpo we have procedures in place that allow us to safely operate the O-Train.' Sun kinks are when a piece of track warps, bends or buckles during the extreme heat. OC Transpo says slowing down the train on above-ground sections of the train will protect the trains and decrease the chances of sun kinks expanding and becoming worse. 'When the temperature drops below 30 degrees Celsius, trains will return to their normal speeds,' the transit service says. Maintenance staff will also be increasing inspections on Line 1, Line 2 and Line 4. VIA Rail VIA Rail is warning travellers may experience delays on trains operating from Ottawa to Montreal and Toronto due to the heat. The Crown corporation says delays are possible on all trains operating on the Windsor-Quebec City corridor. 'For safety purposes, the railway infrastructure owner could be forced to impose speed restrictions, which could result in delays at departure or on route,' VIA Rail said on X.
