UK rail passengers urged to avoid travel during extreme heat

Train operator Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR) has warned passengers not to travel as temperatures climb and a rare red warning for extreme heat comes into force. The firm said Thameslink, Great Northern and Southern passengers were being urged to travel only if "absolutely necessary" on Wednesday and Thursday. This is in line with advice from Network Rail after the Met Office issued the warning covering a large part of its network.

Service disruptions and speed restrictions

Gatwick Express, also operated by GTR, has suspended its service from early afternoon on Wednesday and Thursday, though the airport is still served by Thameslink and Southern trains. GTR said speed restrictions, put in place for safety reasons, meant there would be fewer trains on both days. "Friday's service is being kept under review as the forecast develops," it said.

Southeastern has also advised commuters to avoid peak travel times as trips to and from coastal towns are expected to be busy.

Red warning for extreme heat

Temperatures are set to continue increasing, with the potential for 38 or 39°C on Wednesday and Thursday. A red warning is the most severe level of alert, indicating dangerous weather is expected with a high likelihood of risk to life. It will come into effect at 09:00 BST on Wednesday until 21:00 BST on Thursday.

Health services brace for surge

The South East Coast Ambulance Service is bracing for a surge in callouts as temperatures soar and England play in the World Cup. The service received more than 3,500 emergency calls each day during the busiest period of the May bank holiday — 30% more than normal, it said. With high temperatures expected until at least Thursday, the service is expecting a repeat, with a further surge in callouts anticipated due to England's fixture against Ghana on Tuesday night.

Football supporters have been urged to "plan ahead, stay hydrated with soft drinks and water, and ensure they get home safely". The service is asking people to only call 999 in an emergency to help ease the pressure on the ambulance service. In a non-emergency situation, the public are advised to call the NHS's 111 service or speak to a community pharmacist.

Vulnerable groups at risk

Age UK has warned of the dangers of extreme heat for older people, with figures showing those over 75 accounted for about nine in 10 heat-related deaths in England last summer. The UK Health Security Agency said this age group was at risk of "significant heat-associated mortality".

Schools adjust schedules

Numerous schools in the South East have announced they will close or finish early to protect pupils amid the extreme heat. These include Cheam High School in Surrey, which will close at about lunchtime on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Godalming College in Surrey has decided not to open on Wednesday and Thursday. Remote teaching plans are being drawn up. Priory School in Lewes, Uckfield College, and Mulberry Academy Bexhill, all in East Sussex, have also confirmed partial closures on Wednesday and Thursday.

Other schools are adjusting their schedules to help keep pupils safe. Leigh Academy Snowfields in Cranbrook, Kent, wrote on its social media page that its sports days had been cancelled, pupils could wear PE kit to stay cool, and children were to remain indoors during lunchtime from Tuesday to Thursday. Greenvale Primary School in Chatham said it would adjust PE and other timetables to avoid "more energetic activities, particularly in the hottest parts of the day".

Thunderstorms and closures

As the UK prepares for another few days of soaring temperatures, thunderstorms hit the country overnight, with some reporting areas of Kent and East Sussex, such as Bexhill, being affected. Elsewhere, the National Trust announced Polesden Lacey in Surrey would be closed from Tuesday due to "local road closures and extreme heat" and all on-site events had been cancelled. The organisation said it anticipated the site would reopen on Saturday.