EMR continues to advise customers to only travel if essential as hot weather impacts services
- Customers urged to only make essential journeys this week.
- If travel is essential, customers are encouraged to travel before 12:00 noon, to avoid the highest temperatures.
- Customers should expect disruption across the network.
- Customers advised to check before setting off.
- Some regional services will be withdrawn to help increase resilience across the network.
- EMR is working closely with Network Rail to monitor conditions and keep services running safely.
East Midlands Railway (EMR), operated by Transport UK, is reminding customers to only travel if their journey is essential as exceptionally high temperatures continue to impact the railway across much of England.
Following the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issuing an amber Heat-Health Alert covering much of the EMR network from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 July, EMR has introduced a temporary amended timetable designed to protect the wider railway.
By making considered reductions, EMR can provide greater resilience across the rest of the network and maintain a pool of trains that can be deployed should disruption occur.
The high temperatures are expected to place additional pressure on the railway, with track temperatures significantly exceeding air temperatures and increasing the likelihood of infrastructure and fleet-related issues.
Customers are strongly encouraged to check their journey before travelling and, where possible, travel before 12:00 noon, when temperatures are expected to be lower.
Service changes
Friday 10 July
EMR plans to operate the following services:
Connect
A full service will operate.
Intercity
A reduced timetable will operate, with the considered removal of some services throughout the day.
Regional
Robin Hood Line services between Nottingham and Worksop will be suspended from 12:00.
Nottingham to Leicester stopping services will be suspended from 12:00. Liverpool Lime Street – Nottingham – Norwich services will operate between Norwich and Sheffield only.
Saturday 11 July
EMR plans to operate the following services:
Connect
A full service will operate.
Intercity
A reduced timetable will operate, with the considered removal of some services throughout the day.
Regional
Liverpool Lime Street – Nottingham – Norwich services will operate between Norwich and Sheffield only.
Sunday 12 July
EMR plans to operate the following services:
Connect
A full service will operate.
Intercity
A reduced timetable will operate, with the considered removal of some services throughout the day.
Regional
A full Regional timetable is planned to operate. Customers are reminded that services may still be subject to short-notice changes depending on weather conditions across the network.
Customers who need to travel are encouraged to plan ahead and take simple steps to stay safe and comfortable.
As well as travelling before 12:00 noon, customers should carry plenty of water to stay hydrated, wear lightweight clothing, and wait in shaded areas or station waiting rooms.
Customers are encouraged to check the latest travel information before setting off via the EMR website or app.
Philippa Cresswell, Customer Experience Director at East Midlands Railway, said: "With exceptionally high temperatures expected to continue this weekend, our priority is to keep as much of the railway running as possible while continuing to operate safely.
"By making temporary changes to a small number of services, we can better protect the wider timetable and provide greater resilience across the network should disruption occur.
"If you do need to travel, please check your journey before setting off and, where possible, travel before midday. We'd also encourage customers to carry plenty of water, stay hydrated and allow extra time for their journey."