Hot weather is forecast until at least Saturday 27 June: advice if you are travelling with Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern or Thameslink 

Route(s) affected

Across the Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern or Thameslink networks

Description

The Met Office are advising that heatwave conditions are forecast for parts of England and Wales with temperatures expected to remain high until at least Saturday 27 June.

The hot weather is set to be widespread over England and Wales, and highs of up to 38°C are possible in some areas. There are red and amber weather warnings in place for extreme heat covering parts of England and Wales until Thursday 25 June.

Customer advice:

On Wednesday 24 June and Thursday 25 June - when the most extreme conditions are expected - passengers travelling to, from or within the red warning areas should only travel if absolutely necessary. Passengers outside those areas should continue to check their travel plans carefully.

Tuesday 23 June will also see high temperatures across the network, increasing the potential for disruption to the train service. Please ensure you check before you travel, and plan ahead if you're travelling on Tuesday.

Rail services will continue to run but will be reduced in some parts of the network - passengers should expect disruption across the network. For safety reasons, trains will operate at reduced speeds and to amended timetables, meaning journeys will take longer and there is a heightened risk of delays, cancellations, and last-minute alterations. There will be no rail replacement bus services during this period.

Passengers who do need to travel are strongly advised to prepare for the conditions by bringing plenty of water, wearing sunscreen and a hat, and ensuring that they have a back-up plan in case of disruption. If you begin to feel unwell, please seek assistance at the next station or speak to a member of station staff. For your safety, we kindly ask that you avoid using the emergency alarm between stations, as this may delay access to support.

Check before you travel:

You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner.

Compensation:

You may be entitled to compensation if you experience a delay in completing your journey today. Please keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.