LNER and Hull Trains has updated it’s travel advice during the Red Warning alert for high temperatures and says it will not be running any services south of York or Selby on Tuesday 19th.
They’ll also be running fewer trains than normal this Monday 18th and it’s highly likely that they will be subject to significant delays because speed restrictions will be in place.
On Tueday 19th there will be a limited number of LNER trains to other destinations north of York and at the moment Grand Central are saying a couple of services will run between Northallerton, Thirsk, York and London.
If you do have to travel please check your journey before you set off.
Hull Trains, which serves Selby, say: “We will only be running a single service in each direction early in the morning with two further shuttle services between Hull and Doncaster.
Services will be diverted and will not call at Howden and Selby.
“We are extremely sorry for the inconvenience that this will cause to your journey, however, we are taking these safety precautions as a measure of protection for both passengers and staff.”
TransPennine Express says Hull – Manchester Piccadilly via Selby and Redcar Central – Manchester Airport via Thirsk will not run over the next two days either.
Northern says expect delays and cancellations and there are problems between Hull and Scarborough today too
Latest information can be found on here LNER Hull Trains and Grand Central websites
The cancellations and speed reductions are due to the risk of the heat buckling the rails and causing the overhead wires to sag.
It means trains could be running at as little as 50% of normal speed – potentially making a journey to London take more than four hours.
[tptn_list limit=3 daily=1 hour_range=1]
Sam MacDougall, operations director for Network Rail, said: “Closing the line to traffic is always a last resort but it is the right thing to do to keep people safe on Tuesday given the unprecedented heatwave forecast. The forecast temperatures are well above those which our infrastructure is designed, and safety must come first.
“On Monday we are reducing the speed at which trains can run which will limit the number of trains running and extend journey times significantly so we’re asking passengers to only travel if absolutely necessary.
“The best way to keep everyone safe and prevent passengers from becoming stranded on trains in the extraordinary heat is to proactively close the East Coast Main Line routes south of York and Leeds during the very hottest temperatures. I am sorry for the disruption this will cause.”
Jason Webb, director of customer information at trade body Rail Delivery Group, said:“We must ask people to only travel if absolutely necessary.
“If you have no choice but to travel on lines that are open, please take all sensible precautions to keep yourself safe and well, like bringing water for your journey.
“If your train is disrupted and you choose not to travel then you are eligible for a fee free refund. Some operators will also offer customers the ability to travel either Wednesday or Thursday if they prefer to delay their travel – please check with your operator. We are sorry for the disruption caused.”
Remember to drink plenty of water during this hot weather if you absolutely have to travel on other lines.
You can fill up your reusable water bottle at one of the free cold-water fountains at Britain’s biggest railway stations.