Extreme Heats Cause Travel Disruptions In England And Spain

As parts of Europe are hit with wildfires, droughts and record-breaking temperatures, travel plans for many have been put on hold.

On Monday, one of the UK’s largest airports suspended flights after high temperatures damaged a runway. London Luton airport announced on Twitter that essential repairs were required after the high heat essentially “caused a small section to lift.” Full operation commenced after 6 p.m. local time.

The Royal Air Force also paused all flights to and from Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, its biggest air base, after a report from Sky News suggested part of the runway had “melted.” The UK Ministry of Defence tweeted a statement saying: “During this period of extreme temperature flight safety remains the RAF’s top priority, so aircraft are using alternative airfields in line with a long-established plan. This means there is no impact on RAF operations.”

Also in London, commuters have been told not to use the city’s transportation services unless for “essential journeys” the Transport for London chief operating officer Andy Lord advised.

Regular track temperature checks will take place to prevent tracks from bending or buckling, TfL said in a statement. The network will also check air conditioning units across the Tube network and air cooling systems on the capital’s double-decker buses.

Network Rail, which owns and operates Britain’s railway, has asked people not to travel on Tuesday due to the extreme heat. In a tweet, the company said the East Coast Main Line will be closed and no services will run between London King’s Cross and York and Leeds.

“A combination of extremely high local forecast temperatures and temperatures well in excess of those for which the infrastructure is designed for on the East Coast Main Line has led to this decision,” it said on its website.

The UK Met Office has issued its first ever Red warning for heat, for both Monday and Tuesday.

Spain has also suspended train services in the country’s northwest between Madrid and Galicia due to a fire close to the tracks, according to state-owned rail company RENFE. On Monday morning local time, the railway administer announced the suspension which will affect all trains on the route until further notice.