With very high temperatures forecast to persist into Friday, Southeastern is advising customers to avoid non‑essential rail travel on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 June as extreme heat continues across Kent and the south east.
During this period, there is a high risk of disruption to services and journeys may be affected at short notice.
In extreme heat, rail temperatures can rise significantly above air temperatures, requiring trains to run at reduced speeds to keep passengers and staff safe. This means journeys are likely to take longer, with an increased risk of delays and cancellations.
The hot weather is also expected to drive continued high demand, particularly to coastal destinations, which may place additional pressure on services.
David Davidson, Chief Operating Officer, South Eastern Railway, said:
“With extreme heat set to continue into Friday- the safety and wellbeing of our customers is our top priority. That is why we are continuing to advise people to only travel if absolutely necessary as services are likely to be disrupted.
“Staff are working hard to keep our railway moving safely, however, journeys may take longer and there could be short notice changes, so we’re asking customers who need to travel to check before they do so and allow extra time.
“We’d like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding.”
Customers holding tickets for Thursday 25 or Friday 26 June who choose not to travel can:
- apply for a refund
- use their ticket up to and including Tuesday 30 June at no extra cost
If a journey involves other train operators, customers should check National Rail Enquiries for the latest information and any alternative travel arrangements.
Customers can check online timetables or sign up for journey alerts via the Southeastern app or website for the latest information on their service.
