Express & Star

Train commuters hit by mass cancellations as weather hits record highs

Rail operators are urging people in the region to 'only travel if necessary' this evening as services were reduced or cancelled due to the extreme hot weather.

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Train travel warning issued by bosses in hot weather

Bosses at West Midlands Railway, Avanti West Coast, LN Railway, Cross Country and Transport for Wales, as well as at Transport for West Midlands, urged commuters to only use their services if vital and some services have been cancelled.

Network Rail has suspended all train services running in and out of Birmingham International. Train tickets are being accepted on National Express buses, but travellers may experience delays.

A spokesman for West Midlands Railway said: "Due to safety reasons relating to the hot weather, speed restrictions will be in place on some areas of the network on Tuesday, July 19. As a result, you're encouraged to only travel if essential during this time."

Tickets purchased with Avanti West Coast for yesterday or today can be used on Wednesday or Thursday.

On Tuesday afternoon train services between Snow Hill Smethwick Galton Bridge were disrupted due to signal fault. The line was blocked and services are cancelled, with disruption likely to continue until later in the evening.

Passengers were only being allowed to exit New Street Station in Birmingham, no-one was being allowed in. No trains were running in or out of New Street Station

Here's an update list of services running by West Midlands Railway:

  • Cross City line: Timetables are still being determined, but amendments will be in place and fewer trains will be running

  • Rugeley Trent Valley – Birmingham International: No service.

  • Birmingham New Street – No services

  • Nuneaton – Leamington Spa via Coventry: No service

  • Shrewsbury – Birmingham New Street: No service

  • Hereford - Birmingham New Street: No service

  • Snow Hill lines: Services between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stratford Upon Avon will not run and services between Birmingham Snow Hill and Leamington Spa may also be disrupted

  • Wolverhampton – Birmingham / Walsall: Services disrupted or cancelled.

  • Stourbridge Town Car: Services are planned to run as normal but the Stourbirdge Shuttle service was operating on a 15-minute frequency due to the extreme heat onboard.

For a full list of West Midlands Rail service updates click here.

For updates from Transport for Wales go here.