Speed restrictions are being imposed on the c2c network in Essex from Monday and passengers are being warned that the timetable will change, resulting in longer journeys on some services.
South Essex is the latest area where railways have been affected by exceptionally dry weather. This causes the soil under lines to shrink, distorting the track on the surface.
The very dry conditions have already caused a loss of moisture in clay soil embankments between Gillingham and Axminster, and speed restrictions were introduced on the South Western Main Line in late July because of shrinkage under the track. Trains were unable to call at Crewkerne for two weeks.
The usual hourly London-Exeter service was reduced two days ago to two-hourly, and journeys are now taking an hour longer than before because speeds have been cut from 85mph (137km/h) to 40mph (64km/h) for 16km, although the Crewkerne calls have been restored. The emergency timetable poses problems for train planners because much of the route is single track, and trains can only pass at a few places.
According to the Met Office, the spring of 2025 was Britain’s warmest and sunniest since 1910 and saw the least amount of rain since 1976.
Other areas at risk from the same problem are understood to include the Southminster branch, the North Downs line, Redhill to Tonbridge, Maidstone East to Ashford, Faversham to Whitstable, Tonbridge to Hastings and the line north of Ely in Cambridgeshire.
Network Rail is stepping up its efforts to correct track levels during planned engineering possessions, using tampers and stoneblowers. It said it has laid an additional 12,600 tonnes of ballast in south Essex over the past year in a bid to restore the tracks, but this year’s very dry spring has worsened the problem.
East Anglia infrastructure director Simon Milburn said: ‘We are really sorry for the disruption to passengers from the timetable alterations, but we need to keep everyone moving safely. Our teams are working together to keep running the best possible service for passengers, even with the significant challenges we face with clay soil following prolonged dry spells. Thank you to everyone for bearing with us – and please do check before you travel, particularly if you’re used to getting the same train every day.’
c2c operations and safety director Stuart Browning added: ‘We are working closely with our Network Rail colleagues to ensure the safe running of our services. We are sorry there will be some disruption due to these timetable alterations. We are hopeful these small amendments will not inconvenience our customers’ journeys, but we would urge customers to check before they travel.’
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