On August 14, the hottest day of an exceptionally hot summer, a train derailed near Lewes in East Sussex, England. Three carriages tipped over and two people were seriously injured. The following day, another train derailed in Essex.
We don’t yet know what caused either derailment, and the UK’s Rail Accident Investigation Branch is still gathering evidence. Network Rail – the public body that owns and manages most of Britain’s railway network – said in response that this summer’s repeated heatwaves have “presented exceptional challenges to the railway”. We do know that heat poses particular problems for railways, and that heat-related failure is an increasing risk in the UK as temperatures rise.
