Rail passengers face slower train journeys and a reduced timetable if summer heatwaves become more frequent with climate change.
The train derailment near Lewes in East Sussex on Thursday – the hottest day of the year – has sparked fears about the potential impact of higher temperatures on the rail network.
A second derailment happened less than 24 hours later in Essex on Friday, leading to further concern that parts of the rail infrastructure may be struggling to cope with intense weather.
The Labour Government may have to spend more upgrading infrastructure to help the network adapt to the changing climate, experts told The i Paper.
The cause of Thursday’s overturned Southern Rail commuter carriages – which left 20 people injured, including two serious injuries – is not yet known.
