Trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield have been suspended this evening 'due to the severe heat'. Train operator TransPennine Express said 'disruption is expected to continue until further notice'.
Passengers are being warned not to travel, as scorching heatwave temperatures push towards the 40C mark across the region. A temperature high of 33.7C has been recorded so far today at the University of Manchester's Whitworth Observatory.
TransPennine Express said in a tweet: "Due to the severe heat today, services between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield have been suspended until further notice.
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"Disruption is expected until further notice. Customers are advised to DO NOT TRAVEL."
Blocked rail lines and cancelled trains are being reported in Greater Manchester today amid the heatwave's scorching temperatures. Meanwhile speed restrictions imposed on trains amid fears of rails buckling in the heat could more than double journey times for passengers, the chief spokesman for Network Rail said.
Rail operator Northern has issued alerts over service disruption between Manchester Piccadilly and Stalybridge, Manchester and Crewe and Manchester and Hadfield.
Lines are blocked due to damage to overhead electric wires between Manchester Piccadilly and Stalybridge. Trains between the stations could be cancelled or delayed - with disruption expected until the end of service today. TransPennine Express services are affected.
A fault with the signalling system between Manchester Piccadilly and Macclesfield and Crewe means all lines are currently blocked as well. As a result, trains running between the stations could be cancelled or delayed by up to 60 minutes. Disruption, its reported, is expected until 3pm.
Avanti West Coast services between Manchester Piccadilly and London Euston, and between Manchester Piccadilly and Crewe, are affected, together with CrossCountry services between Manchester Piccadilly and Bournemouth; Northern services between Manchester Piccadilly and Stoke-on-Trent, and between Liverpool Lime street and Crewe, and Transport for Wales trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Milford Haven.
Speed limits are likely to be lowered across the country today and tomorrow due to fears over buckled tracks caused by the heat. Northern has warned passengers to only travel if its essential today and tomorrow.
The East Coast Main Line, meanwhile, will close on Tuesday afternoon for all locations between London King's Cross and York and Leeds.
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