Network Rail has installed a ‘Summer Rail Garden’ at the National Railway Museum in York to show how increasingly hot and dry weather is affecting Britain’s railway network.

The garden was originally displayed at London Victoria station, and highlights the challenges that extreme weather can create for the railway, as well as some of the measures that the industry is taking to help keep the railway running in a safe and reliable way.

The garden has been installed at the museum during a summer in which Britain has experienced three heatwaves so far. In June, temperatures were so high that they broke records, and more hot and dry conditions is expected in August.

Hot weather impacts on the rail network in several ways, including:

• Buckled rails. Steel rails expand when temperatures are high, which can result in them bending or buckling, requiring trains to run at lower speeds.
• Soil moisture deficit. When the weather is dry for a long time, clay soils and embankments may shrink, which increases the risk of the ground moving and making the track unstable.
• Sagging overhead lines. As metal wires expand in the heat, the tension of overhead wires on electrified routes reduces, which may cause the wire to sag and make contact with trains, which can disrupt services.
• Overheating equipment. Very high temperatures may cause signalling and other electrical systems to overheat, which may cause faults to develop.
• Lineside wildfires. Hot weather dries vegetation, which becomes more prone to igniting and causing wildfires. These can be sparked by a variety of causes, and can cause significant disruption to services.

“Due to the effects of climate change, periods of extreme heat and dry weather are becoming more frequent. This summer has already demonstrated some of the challenges that hotter conditions can bring for the railway, with impacts on track, ground conditions, and power and signalling systems.

“The Summer Rail Garden helps explain these impacts in a way that is accessible and engaging, showing visitors how high temperatures can affect rail infrastructure and why adaptation is becoming increasingly important.

“We’re planning years in advance to adapt to changing weather conditions through proactive monitoring and investment in smart technologies – including remote sensors and innovative cooling solutions – to protect critical infrastructure and keep passengers moving safely and reliably during extreme weather.”

Lisa Angus, Network Rail’s industry weather response director