Rail services face delays as trains are hit with speed restrictions over fears of more derailments after clay beneath lines dried out during drought

By AIDAN RADNEDGE, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 16:46, 24 August 2026 | Updated: 16:52, 24 August 2026 Rail passengers face delays and longer journeys blamed on track problems caused by drought and hot weather – amid fears of more derailments ahead. Network Rail said that, from Tuesday, amended timetables are being introduced on the c2c route between Shoeburyness in Essex and London as well as some Greater Anglia services in Essex after a summer of record-breaking heatwaves. Sustained hot weather and low rainfall have caused the clay underneath long stretches of the railway in Essex to dry out and shrink – causing issues with the quality of the track, Network Rail said. It comes after two trains derailed during the heatwave this summer, including a Greater Anglia train near Wickford, Essex, and an incident at Lewes, East Sussex, which seriously injured two passengers. Investigations into both derailments are looking at all possible causes, but officials acknowledged hot weather had landed the railway with a welter of challenges. Martin Beable, operating officer for Great British Rail Anglia, said: 'We're taking action to keep everyone moving safely and reliably while minimising the impact on passengers. 'Our teams are working together across Anglia to keep running the best possible service despite the significant challenges we're facing because of this exceptionally hot and dry weather. 'We never want our customers to experience disruption, but safety will always be our priority. Amended timetables are being introduced on the c2c route between Shoeburyness in Essex and London - pictured are commuters boarding a c2c train in Shouburyness in November 2016 Two trains derailed during the heatwave earlier this summer, including a Greater Anglia train near Wickford, Essex, and an incident at Lewes, East Sussex (pictured) 'Thank you for bearing with us, and please do check before you travel, particularly if you're used to getting the same time train every day.' The changes, which will last until next Tuesday, mean that some journeys will take between two and eight minutes longer than usual with adjusted departure and arrival times. Affected services include c2c trains between London and Shoeburyness and the Greater Anglia line between Southend Victoria and London, which are both key commuter routes for those travelling between the capital and Essex. Following the derailments, Martin Frobisher, group safety and engineering director at Network Rail, said there was 'lots that we can do' to make the railway more resilient to climate change. Network Rail said that there is a programme underway to protect the railway from extreme weather and climate change which is supported by a £2.6billion investment in track maintenance and renewals. The company said it is currently undertaking extra engineering work to minimise the effects of dried-out soil along the Greater Anglia route. This includes using machines called tampers to create a solid foundation for the smooth running of trains and putting down new ballast to help raise the track's level. Following the derailment on August 14, passengers wanting to travel through Wickford are currently being advised only to do so if their journey is essential while repair work continues. The UK is on course for its hottest summer on record, the Met Office has said. Five heatwaves have swept the country with temperatures of up to 38.1C recorded in the south-east of England. The hot weather has coincided with extremely dry conditions, with drought declared in nearly three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales. But now Britain faces thunderstorms, hail, strong winds and up to a month's worth of rain in a matter of hours over the coming days as drought-hit areas brace for flash flooding. The Met Office said this week will begin dry and sunny for the UK as temperatures reach 25C (77F) today before another settled day tomorrow with the odd shower. But conditions will turn unsettled from Wednesday with outbreaks of rain becoming widespread as warm and humid air spreads northwards across the country. Heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely to develop, particularly across England and Wales, with the biggest area of thundery rain sweeping across the south-west. Forecasters said local rainfall totals of up to 30mm (1.2in) within three to four hours are possible in places, while cumulative totals of up to 60mm (2.4in) may develop. But uncertainty remains over exactly where the areas of thunderstorms will develop, meaning rainfall amounts could vary significantly over relatively small distances. A band of heavy and potentially thundery rain will then move slowly northwards through England and Wales on Thursday, which could affect the same areas. Friday could again see a slow-moving band of heavy rain across the UK as an area of low pressure develops and could bring 'intense' downpours at times. More thunderstorms are also possible and winds are expected to strengthen during Friday, especially in eastern and north-eastern coastal areas. Met Office deputy chief forecaster Mark Sidaway said: 'While many areas will see dry and increasingly warm conditions at the start of the week, attention is turning to the potential for heavy rain and thunderstorms from Wednesday onwards. 'As warmer and more humid air moves north across the UK, there is an increasing likelihood of some heavy rain developing. 'Some places could see 20mm to 30mm of rain in just a few hours, while there is also the potential for higher totals where thunderstorms repeatedly affect the same locations.' He added that the 'detail of which areas will see the heaviest rainfall is still uncertain', but there was an 'increasing risk of impactful weather during the latter part of the week'. BBC lead weather presenter Sarah Keith-Lucas also said: 'Heavy rain falling on dry and hard ground may bring the risk of localised flooding.' The UK is now entering the final week of an exceptionally hot and dry summer which has plunged nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales into drought, with 28 million people under hosepipe bans. Rivers and reservoirs are running low after some areas went two months without rain. Wisley in Surrey had 62 consecutive dry days until last week, while London Heathrow had 56 dry days. Last month was the driest July on record for England, with the south-east left severely parched. Met Office data showed East Anglia had just 2mm (0.1in) of rainfall in July, and 56.3mm (2.2in) in June. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. That means the 60mm forecast this week could be more rain than the past two months combined.  The Environment Agency said last Friday that south-east England had received just 3mm of rain so far in August – with rainfall totals for the month still below average across all regions of England, despite wetter weather in some areas. The average rainfall for south-east England in August – using the Heathrow weather station as an example – is 53mm (2.1in).  The Environment Agency added that seven reservoirs in England are now classed as having 'exceptionally low' storage levels, up from five a week ago. Forecasters have also warned Britain faces more storms and rain this autumn and winter caused by an 'unprecedented' El Niño event. El Niño is declared when sea temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise 0.5C above the long-term average, affecting global rainfall patterns and temperatures. The Met Office said this year's event will be 'the largest since the 19th century' – with one expert even claiming it could be the strongest 'in 500 or even 1,000 years'.