Thousands expected to come to Brighton by train this weekend

People from across the country are expected to head to the beach to soak up the sunshine as temperatures continue to rise.

A spokesman for Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which operates Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services, said: “The hot weather is set to draw thousands to the coast this weekend to enjoy everything that the great British public loves about Brighton and we’re proud to play a vital part in making that happen.

“Our services are bound to be busier than normal and we’re advising passengers to take particular care travelling in this heat.

“It’s wise to carry water at all times and to not get on a train if you’re feeling unwell.

“If you are on a train then avoid pulling the emergency alarm between stations if possible, so that we can get help to you as quickly as possible.”

Thousands of people are expected to visit Brighton this weekend to soak up the summer sunshine

Network Rail and GTR have warned people to travel only if absolutely necessary amid the high temperatures forecast on Monday and Tuesday, with speed restrictions and disruption likely.

Jake Kelly, Network Rail’s system operator group director, said: “Rail passengers in England and Wales should only travel if necessary on Monday and Tuesday as there will be delays and cancellations on train services due to the unprecedented heat we’re expecting.

“The wellbeing of our passengers is our first priority so we’re asking all passengers to decide to travel to take time to prepare before leaving the house.

“Journeys will take significantly longer and delays are likely as speed restrictions are introduced to keep passengers and railway staff safe, so make sure to allow considerably more time to complete your journey and be prepared for very hot conditions."

Response teams will be used to mitigate the impact of the extreme heat where possible.

Steel rails absorb heat easily and tend to be around 20 degrees hotter than the surrounding air temperature. When steel becomes very hot, it expands and rails can bend, flex and even buckle in serious cases.

Overhead electric lines which power trains are also susceptible to faults in extreme temperatures, as the warm weather can cause the steel wires to overheat and hang too low. This can increase the risk of getting caught on passing trains and knocking out the electricity supply.

How will my journey be affected next week?

Thameslink services will be running a significantly reduced service across all routes with speed restrictions in place. Trains that do run are expected to be busy and travel is expected to be disrupted with a high chance of incidents that could cause cancellations.

Cancellations are also expected on Southern services due to speed restrictions and further disruption is highly likely over both days.

Gatwick Express services will be suspended, but Southern trains will run in their place making extra stops.