Simon Calder travel alert as train passengers told to make a swap urgently

Simon Calder travel alert as train passengers told to make a swap urgently The travel specialist has issued a plea for anyone travelling by train over the coming days Travel expert Simon Calder has issued a new alert for anyone travelling by rail this week, sharing his latest advice for millions of people across the country as a heatwave hits. His warning comes as train passengers face significant disruptions, with operators across Britain reducing services due to the hot weather this week. According to the Met Office, temperatures could reach 40C in parts of the UK, with the weather agency issuing a red extreme heat warning. Britain is facing what could be its hottest June since 1976. Appearing on today's (June 23) episode of Good Morning Britain, the travel journalist and broadcaster offered a word of warning to viewers. He urged people to change their travel plans this week and, if possible, swap to another date due to the severe heat over the next couple of days. He said: "My advice to anyone booked to travel by rail over the next few days is, please, if you can, move your journey to the end of the week, then do so. It will be much more comfortable and have a higher degree of actually working as it is supposed to. Otherwise, I'm afraid, just be prepared for delays and disruption." The rail industry is preparing for problems that can arise from extreme heat, such as sagging overhead power lines, warped tracks, and fires along the tracks. Travellers are encouraged to leave earlier in the day if they can and to bring a water bottle. Online journey planners may not display accurate schedules until the day of travel due to last-minute cancellations. What are my rights if my train is delayed or cancelled due to hot weather? According to Citizens Advice, if your train is cancelled, you can receive a full refund if you can't catch the next train or choose not to travel. If you're delayed and reach your destination over 30 minutes late, you can typically get some money back. Some train companies may even offer compensation if your train is late by more than 15 minutes. Make sure to keep your train tickets to request a refund. It's best to file your claim within 28 days, although some train companies may allow a longer period. For those who travelled with Transport for London (TfL), like on the London Underground, you can check its website to see how much you could receive and the process for claiming. What have UK railway lines said about the hot weather affecting services? Avanti West Coast said it plans to run fewer services than usual between Tuesday and Thursday, and "there’s a risk of further disruption". The company eased ticket restrictions, enabling passengers to use an earlier service than the one they booked at no extra cost. Those with tickets booked for departures between Tuesday and Thursday are eligible for a full refund if they no longer want to travel. Chiltern Railways has axed more than half its services over those three days "to ensure the safe operation of the railway". This affects London Marylebone services to and from Birmingham, Oxford and Aylesbury via Amersham. The operator said: "We strongly advise you to avoid travelling if possible. Trains are running at greatly reduced levels to ensure everyone’s safety, which means you may experience significant delays and very busy conditions." Great Western Railway requested that people use its services only for "essential travel" on Wednesday and Thursday, coinciding with a severe red warning from the Met Office. The company explained that extended high temperatures can impact the equipment on its older regional train fleet, including engines and cooling systems. It is operating fewer trains than usual between London Paddington and Reading until Friday. This is due to Network Rail not moving certain points—metal pieces that allow trains to switch tracks—on that route to reduce the risk of failures, which are more probable in high heat. LNER said passengers travelling on Tuesday can board an earlier service, adding "we strongly advise that you do not travel across the LNER route" on Wednesday or Thursday. There is disruption across the Transport for Wales network, including between Pontypridd and Cardiff Bay, and between Coryton and Penarth. South Western Railway issued an alert stating it will run fewer services than normal between Tuesday and Thursday. Its services in Hampton, south-west London were also affected by flooding on Tuesday morning after heavy rain overnight. Flooding also caused severe delays on the Elizabeth line between Heathrow airport and London Paddington. Several London Underground lines were suffering from major disruption on Tuesday morning. This included the entire Circle line being suspended because of a signalling failure.