Chiltern Railways cuts London to Birmingham trains as heat hits 38°C

Chiltern Railways will run fewer trains between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street on Thursday as temperatures are forecast to reach 38°C. The operator announced a reduced timetable from 11 am to 8 pm, limiting off-peak services to one train per hour. This follows warnings that extreme heat could disrupt services across its network.

Michael Stewart, commercial and customer strategy director at Chiltern Railways, said passengers should travel only if essential. He stated that the reduced timetable during the hottest part of the day would provide a more reliable service. Some services between London Marylebone and Oxford will also be cancelled, and no trains will run from Birmingham Snow Hill from 10:15 am.

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Other routes affected by heat

East Midlands Railway has cancelled all trains between Nottingham and Worksop after midday on Thursday. The operator also warned that services on the Nottingham to Leicester regional stopping route would not run. The Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich route will operate only between Sheffield and Norwich.

Northern has reduced services in the North West and Yorkshire, citing increased risks to railway reliability in extreme heat. The operator said high temperatures raise the likelihood of issues such as buckled rails and sagging overhead wires. Passengers have been advised to check for updates before travelling.

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What passengers should do

Chiltern Railways and East Midlands Railway have eased some ticket restrictions to help passengers affected by the disruptions. Both operators urged travellers to carry water and check for real-time updates before starting their journeys. Steel rails can reach temperatures above 50°C when air temperatures hit 30°C, increasing the risk of track failures.

We are asking customers to travel only if essential on Thursday because of the exceptionally high temperatures forecast across our network.

Michael Stewart, commercial and customer strategy director at Chiltern Railways

The Met Office has issued an amber heat warning for Thursday, covering large parts of England, including the Chiltern Railways and East Midlands Railway networks. The warning remains in place until 9 pm on Thursday.