The Met Office has issued a red warning of extreme heat, the first in its history, for Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 July 2022.
GTR are advising customers to travel only if their journey is absolutely essential due to the potential for significant disruption to services and have shared with us the following information:-
Network Rail have explained there is a risk of damage to the railway infrastructure, meaning cancellations and delay. To ensure the safe running of trains, speed restrictions will be in place across the network, meaning journeys will take significantly longer than usual.
As a result, timetables will be reduced, as with trains running at slower speeds, fewer services can run per hour. These timetables are in development with work to complete over the weekend.
For Monday 18 July, customers who are seeking to make essential journeys will be able to plan their journeys at www.nationalrail.co.uk from late on Sunday 17 July.
For journeys on Tuesday 19 July, customers will be able to plan from late on Monday 18 July.
The advice is to allow significantly more time, plan the journey before travelling and then check again before departing given the potential for disruption on the day.
GTR confirm that information for customers will be updated and published on the front page of their websites across the weekend.