East Midlands Railway urges essential travel only

East Midlands Railway is advising customers to travel only if essential for the rest of the week, as high temperatures are expected to impact rail services across the region.

The UK Health and Security Agency has issued an amber heat-health alert covering the East Midlands and five other regions of England from today (Wednesday 8th July) until Sunday 12th July 2026. In response, EMR is introducing temporary timetable changes to help maintain safe and reliable services.

Passengers who need to travel are strongly encouraged to do so before 12 noon, when temperatures are expected to be lower. Customers should also check the latest travel information before leaving home, as delays, longer journey times and short-notice alterations are possible.

As part of the temporary timetable, some intercity services will be reduced. In addition, regional services between Nottingham and Worksop, and Nottingham and Leicester, will be suspended from 12 noon to help maintain fleet availability across the wider network.

EMR says the changes are necessary because extreme temperatures can affect railway infrastructure and require trains to operate at reduced speeds in some areas to ensure safe operation.

The operator is working closely with Network Rail to monitor conditions throughout the week. Customers are also advised to carry drinking water, wear lightweight clothing and make use of shaded areas or station waiting rooms where available.

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."