EMR to suspend services amid heat warning

East Midlands Railway (EMR) has announced plans to suspend numerous services this week as temperatures are expected to soar.

The rail operator advised customers to check before they travel on Wednesday and to only travel if "essential" on Thursday. It comes as The Met Office issued a rare amber weather warning for extreme heat for parts of England on Thursday.

Regional services between Sheffield and Liverpool will be suspended on Wednesday and Thursday to help maintain fleet availability, EMR said.

It added regional services between Nottingham and Worksop, as well as between Nottingham and Leicester, would be suspended from 12:00 BST on Thursday.

EMR said the changes were being made to reduce the impact of the extreme temperatures on the railway, with some services also expected to operate at reduced speeds for safety reasons.

It added customers should expect disruption across the network, with longer journey times and an increased risk of delays and short-notice alterations.

The company advised customers to travel before 12:00, carry plenty of water, wear lightweight clothing, and wait in shaded areas or station waiting rooms.

Philippa Cresswell, customer experience director at East Midlands Railway, said: "The hot weather means we'll need to make some temporary changes to our services to keep the railway operating safely.

"If you do need to travel and the journey is essential, we'd recommend travelling before midday and checking your journey before setting off.

"We appreciate these changes may inconvenience some customers and we'd like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we work to keep people moving safely."

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