You may not realise it, but a summer heatwave can cause as many problems for the railway as a downpour.

In case a British summer features abnormally high temperatures, we plan for intense heat, which can cause rails to buckle.

When Britain enjoys a summer heatwave, rails in direct sunshine can be as much as 20°C hotter than air temperature. Because rails are made from steel, they expand as they get hotter, and can start to curve this is known as ‘buckling’.

Most of the network can operate when track temperatures heat up to 46°C – roughly equivalent to air temperature of around 30°C – but rails have been recorded at temperatures as high as 51°C.

Click here for full article:https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/delays-explained/buckled-rail-and-summer-heat/