The onset of another heatwave has forced East Midlands Railway (EMR) to make changes to its scheduled services.

Because of these changes, passengers are advised to travel only if necessary, and, if they do travel, to arrange their journey before 12.00 to avoid travelling during the afternoon, when temperatures are highest.

In an effort to ensure trains are available across the company’s network, there will be no services after 12:00 noon between Nottingham and Worksop or between Nottingham and Leicester.

East Midlands Railway’s network is covered by an amber heat-health alert, issued by the UK Health and Security Agency, for six regions of England, which is valid from today, Wednesday, 8th to Sunday, 12th July.

Passengers who do travel may expect a disruption to their journey, as journeys may take longer, and there is a possibility of delays or alterations to their journeys at short notice.

No decision has yet been taken for services on Thursday and Friday; passengers should check their journey details before they travel.

Further advice for passengers who do travel includes trying to travel before 12:00 noon, carrying plenty of water to stay hydrated, wearing lightweight clothing, and trying to stay out of the sun while waiting for trains, either in station waiting rooms or in shaded areas. The latest travel information can be found here.

The last heatwave affected other train operators, such as the Great Western Railway, and heritage lines such as the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

“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.”

Philippa Cresswell, Customer Experience Director, East Midlands Railway