Rail passengers in Dorset and Devon experience extended journey times and reduced services due to extreme dry weather causing embankments to shrink and destabilize railway tracks. South Western Railway implemented speed restrictions on the route between London Waterloo and Exeter, limiting trains to 40mph instead of 85mph. This has resulted in increased journey times by up to an hour and a reduced timetable, as trains cannot pass each other on the affected single-track line. The dry conditions have been linked to climate change's impact on transport infrastructure in the UK.
South Western Railway (SWR) confirmed it has had to introduce speed restrictions and a reduced timetable on its route between London Waterloo and Exeter.
The lack of moisture has caused soil embankments to contract, particularly along a 12-mile stretch between Gillingham and Axminster, leading to structural movement beneath the tracks.
SWR said the speed restrictions on this single-track line mean trains can no longer pass each other at scheduled times, forcing a cut in services.
The disruption is the latest example of how climate change is impacting UK transport infrastructure.
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