Rail passengers have to walk along tracks on hottest day of year so far after fault bring trains to halt
Scores of train passengers have been evacuated after some services were halted on what was the hottest day of the year in the UK so far.
Video footage showed people, including young children, getting off a train near Loughborough Junction in south London and walking along the tracks with their luggage.
Passenger Ioannis Dimitrousis, who filmed the incident, said he was travelling to Brighton when his train stopped.
He said people were "locked in the train with no fresh air and no air conditioning".
He said: "We were just going to Brighton but still messed up our day."
He added that the train also had "lots of people" who were heading to Gatwick Airport who missed their flights.
Another passenger wrote on X to Thameslink: "You will have hell to pay. We've been stuck on this hot and humid train for over an hour.
"The doors were closed because we were told we may be moving. That was 15 minutes ago. It's like an oven in here and we're being slow-cooked."
She said the train was "stuck between Blackfriars and East Croydon" in south London.
A Thameslink spokesperson replied to her, saying: "This train will be getting evacuated shortly. Please wait until response staff have boarded and set up a safe evacuation route."
Govia Thameslink Railway and Network Rail have apologised for the delays.
A spokesperson said: "Earlier today, a fault on a train near Loughborough Junction brought all services to a halt in the area, three of them outside station platforms.
"Without power and air conditioning on such a hot day, we pulled all resources from across Sussex and Kent to get personnel on site to safely evacuate passengers as quickly as possible along the track.
"This would have been a difficult and uncomfortable experience for our passengers and we are truly sorry.
"With safety our top priority, the safest place was to remain on the trains while we worked our hardest to get help to those on board."
The spokesperson said due to engineering works, the route affected was the only one that Thameslink trains can take south out of London.
And the disruption was expected to continue into the evening.
The spokesperson continued: "Passengers delayed by 15 minutes or more are also entitled to compensation, with details on our website."
It comes as the UK recorded the hottest day of the year so far, with a high of 33.2C (91.7F) in Charlwood, Surrey, according to the Met Office.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
40 minutes ago
- Daily Record
'Do not travel' warning after tree causes 'significant damage' on Scots rail line
All services north of Carlise are terminated with distruption expected for the rest of the day in Scotland. Rail passengers are being advised "not to travel" to and from Scotland today due to "significant damage" after a tree fell on the train line in Dumfries and Galloway. The incident happened overnight near Beattock with services affected between Carlisle and Scotland. This affecting both the Glasgow and Edinburgh routes. Network Rail say the tree has caused significant damage to overhead lines and they are working as quickly as possible to fix it, but travel disruptioon is expected to last all day. In the meantime, all trains will start and terminate at Carlisle. Avanti West Coast have told customers not to travel to today and those with a valid ticket to travel on June 30 will be able to use that on services on July 1. Network Rail Scotland said on X: "Overnight, a tree came down near Beattock, causing significant damage to the overhead lines. This is affecting services between Carlisle and Scotland. "Our teams are working as quickly and safely as possible, but unfortunately disruption is expected to last all day. "If you're travelling today, please check with your train operator before setting off. " @AvantiWestCoast and @TPExpressTrains are advising people not to travel north of Carlisle." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Avanti West Coast added: "Due to damage to overhead wires between Lockerbie and Carlisle, we are advising customers not to travel north or south of Carlisle today, 30 June. If you were due to travel to or from Scotland today, your ticket dated 30 June can be used on any Avanti West Coast train, via the same route tomorrow 1 July. "If you abandoned your journey as a result of today's disruption, your ticket dated 30 June can be used on any Avanti West Coast train, via the same route tomorrow 1 July." Andy McClements, customer experience and transformation director at Avanti West Coast, said: 'It's rare that we advise customers not to travel, but it is likely to take much of today to clear the tree from the lines and we cannot guarantee travel between Carlisle and either Glasgow or Edinburgh. 'We will have additional members of staff out and about on the route today to help our customers, and we are allowing customers with tickets to travel tomorrow to help get them where they need to be.'
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Travelling with carry-on? How to pack light and avoid extra luggage fees
As summer travel gears up, the prospect of lengthy baggage queues at airports is a familiar dread for many holidaymakers. Yet, a growing number of seasoned travellers are bypassing this frustration by mastering the art of carry-on travel. Whether jetting off for a quick weekend getaway or determined to condense a long-haul journey into a single bag, packing light doesn't necessitate sacrificing style or essentials. Instead, it demands a more strategic approach. Travel experts, having honed their methods over countless journeys, are now offering invaluable insights into maximising space and efficiency within the confines of a single carry-on. Here are their tips. 1. Pick a suitcase with exterior pockets Picking the right bag makes all the difference. 'Choose a carry-on case with exterior pockets for items you will need in transit,' recommends Fiona Spinks, solo adventurer and founder of Following Fiona. 'A book, snacks or the clear liquid bag can live outside the main compartment so you are not opening the whole case in a crowded queue.' 2. Make a master list 'Start with a master list and tailor it for each trip – beach, city, festival, whatever,' suggests Chelsea Dickenson, the founder of Holiday Expert, who has partnered with Boots to create packing tips to help Britons get organised this summer. 'I keep mine in my phone notes and update it before every holiday. You only need one extra outfit – not five emergency dresses and 10 pairs of spare knickers.' 3. Invest in some packing cubes Packing cubes free up valuable space. 'One cube holds tops, another holds bottoms and a third keeps underwear separate,' says LP Maurice, travel expert, backpacker and CEO and co-founder of travel website Busbud. 'The cubes act like drawers when you open the bag. Press down on each cube before you zip it to push out any trapped air.' 4. Try the travel pillow trick This creative packing hack has gone viral on TikTok and is a great way to sneak some extra socks and pants onto a plane. 'Take the stuffing out of your travel pillow and fill it with clothes – socks, pants, even pyjamas,' recommends Ms Dickenson. 'No one at the airport will know, and you've just bought yourself extra space in your case and still get a comfy pillow. Just try and stick to the cleaner clothes for your return journey.' 5. Roll your clothes 'Rolling each item instead of folding sounds simple, yet it makes a surprising difference,' says Ms Spinks. 'Rolled clothes stack snugly along your case's length and come out with fewer creases, so you spend less time hunting for an iron at your hotel. 'This method also lets you spot gaps where you can tuck socks or underwear using every corner of the bag.' 6. Limit yourself to two pairs of shoes 'Footwear is always the bulkiest offender, so wear the heaviest pair for the journey so the lighter pair can slot along the side of the case,' recommends Ms Spinks. 'Filling the inside of each shoe with chargers or rolled underwear stops wasted space and keeps the shoes from collapsing.' Make every little bit of space count. 'Fill the shoes with rolled socks and chargers to stop dead space,' recommends Mr Maurice. Dickenson agrees and says that little things like lining the edges of your suitcase with belts and tucking your jewellery into sunglasses cases can make all the difference. 8. Wear the bulkiest items 'A jacket with deep pockets can carry your phone, headphones and a paperback book,' highlights Mr Maurice. 'That choice removes about 1 kg from your bag and could help you stay warm in an air‑conditioned cabin.' 9. Decant your toiletries into mini bottles 'Switch full-size toiletries for reusable mini bottles and solid versions wherever possible,' recommends Ms Spinks. 'Decanting shampoo and moisturiser into 80ml containers satisfies airline liquid rules and saves you from paying extra for checked baggage just to carry large bottles. 'Solid bars of soap or conditioner slip into any spare corner and never leak over your clothes.' 10. Buy a flat lay makeup bag 'If you're anything like me and tend to spread your makeup and toiletries everywhere, a flat lay bag makes life so much easier,' says Ms Dickenson. 'You just open it up and everything's laid out and visible. No more rooting around for your mascara or leaving half your makeup behind.'
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Wildfires burn in Turkey and France as early heatwave hits
ISTANBUL/PARIS, June 30 (Reuters) - Firefighters battled wildfires in Turkey and France on Monday as an early heatwave hit the region. In Turkey, the wildfires raged for a second day in the western province of Izmir, fanned by strong winds, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said, forcing the evacuation of four villages and two neighbourhoods. Media footage showed teams using tractors with water trailers and helicopters carrying water, as smoke billowed over hills marked with charred trees. Turkey's coastal regions have in recent years been ravaged by wildfires, as summers have become hotter and drier, which scientists say is a result of human-induced climate change. In France, where temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday, wildfires broke out on Sunday in the southwestern Aude department, where temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), burning 400 hectares and forcing the evacuation of a campsite and an abbey, authorities and local media said. The fires were under control but not yet extinguished, authorities said on Monday. Weather service Meteo France put a record 84 of the country's 101 departments on an orange heatwave alert from Monday until midweek. About 200 schools will be at least partially shut over the next three days because of the heat, the Education Ministry said. The heatwave has lowered water levels on Germany's Rhine River, hampering shipping and raising freight costs for cargo owners, commodity traders said. The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities such as grains, minerals and oil products. Forecasters said temperatures as high as 40 C are possible in Cologne. In Seville, southern Spain, where global leaders were gathering for a United Nations conference, temperatures were expected to hit 42 C. Tourists were trying to deal with the heat. "Really hard currently," Mehrzad Joussefi, from the Netherlands, said. Spain is on course for its hottest June on record, the national meteorological service AEMET said. Most of the country remains under alert for heat, with AEMET forecasting the peak of the heatwave on Monday. "Over the next few days, at least until Thursday, intense heat will continue in much of Spain," said Ruben del Campo, a spokesperson for the weather agency. Italy's Health Ministry issued heatwave red alerts for 21 cities, including Rome and Milan. Weather forecast website said temperatures on Monday would go as high as 41 C in Florence, 38 C in Bologna and 37 C in Perugia. The Lombardy region, part of Italy's northern industrial heartland, is planning to ban open-air work in the hottest times of the day, heeding a request from trade unions, its president said on Monday. Heat can affect health in various ways, and experts are most concerned about older people and babies, as well as outdoor labourers and people struggling economically. Globally, extreme heat kills up to 480,000 people annually, surpassing the combined toll from floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, and poses growing risks to infrastructure, the economy and healthcare systems, Swiss Re said earlier this month. Global surface temperatures last month averaged 1.4 C higher than in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period, when humans began burning fossil fuels on an industrial scale, the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said earlier this month. Scientists say the main cause of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. Last year was the planet's hottest on record.
