East Midlands Railway customers advised Essential Travel Only on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June 2026, as Met Office issues Red Weather Warning Alert

Customers are urged to only take essential journeys only on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June as much of southern England, the midlands, and Wales are set to see record June temperatures.

The Met Office has issued rare red weather warnings, and all passengers should check before they travel, as temperatures begin to soar.

If travel is essential, customers are being encouraged to travel before 12:00 midday each day, before the highest afternoon temperatures are reached.

EMR rail services will continue to run, but customers should expect disruption across the network, impacting both EMR services, and other rail operators. For safety reasons, some trains will operate at reduced speeds and to amended timetables, meaning journeys will take longer and there is a heightened risk of delays.

Customers who do need to travel are strongly advised to take extra precautions to ensure a safe and comfortable journey.

• Keep hydrated; carry a bottle of water with you and top this up throughout the day where facilities are available. Consider travelling with a personal handheld fan if you have one.
• Wear lightweight, loose fitting clothing.
• Wait for your train in the shade or a station waiting room.
• Don’t board a train if you feel unwell – instead speak to staff at our stations who are best placed to assist you. If you are already on board a service and feel unwell, speak to our on train team who will do their best to assist you.
• Allow extra time to travel. Services may be busier than usual and some queuing systems may be in place.

Philippa Cresswell, Customer Experience Director at EMR said: “High temperatures are expected throughout the UK this week and a rare red alert to health has been issued by the Met Office applicable to much of EMR’s network on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June.

“We strongly urge our customers to check their journey before travelling with us and continue to monitor for updates throughout the week, as conditions and service levels may change at short notice.

“If you do have to travel, please carry a water bottle with you and allow extra time to complete your journey.”

Separately, an incident on Friday 19 June continues to affect EMR Intercity and Connect services. Further information is available in EMR’s latest update regarding the collision in Bedford: East Midlands Railway and Network Rail have provided an update from the scene of the collision in Bedford, with footage available for media | East Midlands Railway News

As part of the amended timetable, a rail replacement bus service remains in operation between Bedford and Luton. Ticket acceptance arrangements with other rail operators remain in place; however, customers are strongly advised to check alternative travel options, as reduced services are also expected on other routes.

For the latest travel information, customers should check before they travel at www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk

ENDS