Key facts
- Britain's railway system is preparing for extreme weather events due to a developing El Niño.
- The El Niño event is forecast to be the strongest in over a century.
- Network Rail has significantly increased its investment in climate resilience for the railway infrastructure.
- The railway system needs to adapt to higher temperatures and more intense rainfall.
- Network Rail is undertaking a £2.6 billion program of works for track maintenance and renewals.
Britain's railway infrastructure is being prepared for a potential surge in extreme weather events, including intense heat and heavy rainfall, as a powerful El Niño develops. Experts warn that the UK's rail system, traditionally not designed for hot weather, faces significant challenges from rising temperatures and increased storminess.
Professor Xueyu Geng from the University of Warwick highlighted that the railway system, including overhead lines, is under stress from current heatwaves and needs to adapt to higher temperatures, suggesting design standards should incorporate lessons from countries like Spain and Saudi Arabia, which manage railways in much hotter climates. She emphasized the need to maintain resilience against extreme cold as well.
Prof Adam Scaife of the Met Office stated that the developing El Niño is unprecedented, potentially the strongest in over a century with Pacific sea temperatures peaking significantly above normal. This pattern is expected to bring increased rainfall and stormy weather to the UK in the autumn.
William Powrie, professor of geotechnical engineering at the University of Southampton, advised that rail operators must prepare for both prolonged hot, dry periods and intense rainfall. He pointed to the need to address compromised infrastructure, such as extensive singling on certain lines, and reduce train speeds to account for poor track quality resulting from soil moisture deficits.
Ioannis Koliousis, associate professor at Cranfield School of Management, stressed the importance of using the warning time to intensify drainage clearance, culvert inspections, and vegetation management, distinguishing between immediate maintenance and long-term adaptation. Network Rail acknowledged the forecast for a warm, wet winter and stated its commitment to improving resilience through a £2.6 billion program of works, including track maintenance, renewals, and the implementation of monitoring technologies.