London faces heatwave travel chaos: TFL ALREADY announces ‘reduced service’ will be running during Monday’s 106F heat as Sadiq Khan warns people to ‘change their routine’
- Temperatures of 41C (106F) are predicted on Monday and Tuesday
- TFL said there will be a reduced service on Overground services
- Will be just two trains an hour between Richmond and Stratford
- Only two trains an hour will run between Stratford and Watford Junction
- There will be no services at all between Romford and Upminster
Transport for London has already announced there will be a reduced service on some lines next week ahead of what is expected to be the hottest day on record.
Unprecedented temperatures of 41C (106F) are predicted on Monday and Tuesday, with health officials placing the country on a ‘national emergency’ footing.
But even though the country is still three days away from the record-breaking heat, TFL said there will be a reduced service on Overground services.
A poster displayed at Action Central station in West London today revealed that on Monday and Tuesday there will be just two trains an hour between Richmond and Stratford and Watford Junction and Euston.
There will be no services at all between Romford and Upminster.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan warned commuters that ‘substantial changes’ in their routines will be needed.
‘I urge Londoners to be very careful and to look after each other in the comings days,’ he added.
The reduced service will pile misery on commuters ahead of travel chaos caused by rail strikes that are set to take place next month amid a row about pay and conditions.
Transport for London has already announced there will be a reduced service on some lines next week ahead of what is expected to be the hottest day on record. A poster displayed at a London station revealed that on Monday and Tuesday there will be just two trains an hour between Richmond and Stratford and Watford Junction and Euston
Mr Khan added: ‘The Met Office has now issued a red warning for extreme heat on Monday and Tuesday.
‘This is potentially dangerous and a very serious consequence of climate change.
‘This warning is not limited to the most vulnerable and means that substantial changes in all our daily routines will be required, and there is likely to be an impact on travel.
‘All of the capital’s key agencies and emergency services are working closely together to ensure London is prepared for the extreme heat that is forecast and will continue to provide advice for Londoners ahead of Monday.’
His statement came as meteorologists gave an 80 per cent chance of the mercury topping the UK’s record temperature of 38.7C (101.7F) set in Cambridge in 2019, with the current heatwave set to peak on Tuesday.
There is a 50 per cent chance of temperatures reaching 40C somewhere in the UK, likely along the A1 corridor, with the Met Office issuing its first ever red warning for extreme heat.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan warned commuters that ‘substantial changes’ in their routines will be needed. Above: Mr Kahn checking the pulse on a simulated patient during the opening of the London Ambulance Service’s new Brentside Training Centre in west London earlier this week
Even though the country is still three days away from the record-breaking heat, TFL said there will be a reduced service on Overground services. Above: Commuters on the Jubilee line yesterday
A digital thermometer taken on the tube this week shows how temperatures were at 30.1C (86.2F)
BBC Weather is predicting that parts of London will see temperatures of 41C (106F).
The UK Health Security Agency has increased its heat health warning from level three to level four – a ‘national emergency’.
RAC urges motorists to ‘think carefully’ before getting behind the wheel on ‘hottest day in history’
Motorists have been warned against driving on Monday and Tuesday as the country braces itself for the hottest day ever in recorded history with the Met Office predicting temperatures of 106F or 41C.
The RAC said they are expecting a major surge in breakdowns as cars overheat in the extreme weather conditions.
Drivers are advised if they must use their cars they should ensure that all fluids are at their correct levels and carry an emergency kit in case of breakdown.
Rod Dennis, the RAC’s breakdown spokesman said: ‘If temperatures were to go as high as around 40c as some are predicting, then people should question their decision to drive in the first place.’
The unprecedented Met Office red weather warning states there is an 80 per cent chance of temperatures beating the current record of 101.7F set in 2019 in Cambridge.
Level four is reached ‘when a heatwave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system… At this level, illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups,’ it said.
The Met Office red warning, for Monday and Tuesday, covers an area from London up to Manchester, and up to the Vale of York.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: ‘If people have vulnerable relatives or neighbours, now is the time to make sure they’re putting suitable measures in place to be able to cope with the heat because if the forecast is as we think it will be in the red warning area, then people’s lives are at risk.
‘This is a very serious situation.’
He said there is an 80 per cent chance of the all-time UK temperature record being broken, and a 50 per cent chance of temperatures of 40C being reached somewhere in the UK.
‘Most likely that would be within the red warning area for extreme heat,’ said Mr Madge.
‘Probably the most likely areas to look at would be north of London and up to Lincolnshire, inland.
‘Somewhere like Peterborough, Grantham, Sandy, Stevenage, those sorts of areas, A1 corridor.’
He said that temperatures reaching 40C would be a ‘historic event’.
‘If we get to 40C that’s a very iconic threshold and shows that climate change is with us now,’ he said.
‘This is made much more likely because of climate change.’
Mike Childs, head of science, policy and research at Friends of the Earth, said: ‘Each year, the effects of climate breakdown are becoming more evident and more severe.
‘Without meaningful Government intervention, millions of Brits, particularly older people and young children, will be at increasing risk from health-threatening heatwaves like the one we’re experiencing.’
TUESDAY: The Met Office expects temperatures to hit 40C (104F) in London next Tuesday, which would be unprecedented
A No 10 spokesman said railway speed restrictions may be needed on ‘some parts of the network next week to manage the hot weather and to avoid any potential damage’.
Downing Street said that that Cobra met on Thursday amid the heatwave, and discussions with sectors including the NHS will ‘continue to work closely with all of those sectors over today, through the weekend and into early next week’.
Meanwhile, motorists have been advised to try to make their journeys outside of the hottest periods of the day, particularly if they have older cars.
Sean Sidley, AA patrol of the year, said: ‘There are reports of road gritters being out this weekend to reduce the chances of our roads melting.
‘If it does get sticky on the roads there’s nothing worse than being stuck in a jam with the mercury rising, so make sure you carry plenty of water – at least a litre per person – and sufficient fuel, or if you’re driving an electric vehicle (EV) – make sure you have plenty of charge so you can use the air-conditioning when needed.’
Tim Doran, from the RNLI Water Safety Team said the service was anticipating a ‘busy weekend’ for its lifeboat crews and lifeguards.
‘If you are planning on going to the beach, we would encourage you to visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags,’ he said.
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