Network Rail is proactively addressing the challenges posed by extreme heat on railway tracks by painting key sections white to keep temperatures lower. The application of approximately 1,500 litres of paint across 30,000 square metres can cool the tracks by 5-10°C, which is vital since hot rails can buckle, leading to significant delays. Last summer, buckled rails accounted for 64 days of delays in the South of England. The organization is also implementing temperature probes and speed restrictions to further mitigate heat impacts on rail infrastructure.
By painting parts of the rail white, they absorb less heat - 5°C to 10°C cooler than one left unpainted.
Last year across the South of England, buckled rails due to hot weather caused the equivalent of 64 days worth of delays for passengers.
Soaring temperatures on the railway can put a huge amount of pressure on our infrastructure.
Temperature probes have been installed on certain parts of the network to alert when track temperatures rise.
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