Passengers forced to evacuate train with no air conditioning after 'slowly cooki
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Passengers were forced to walk down sizzling train tracks after a Thameslink service became stuck in the 34°C heat.
Customers on the service said they felt as if they were being 'slow cooked' after the train came to a halt – and the air conditioning stopped working.
At least three trains had to stop in the middle of their journeys due to faults, with one service shown being evacuated.
One customer wrote online: '[Thameslink] you will have hell to pay. We've been stuck on this hot and humid train for over an hour.
'The doors were closed because we were told we may be moving. That was 15 minutes ago. It's like an oven in here and we're being slow cooked.'
Another took to socials to ask to be rescued, saying they had been stuck on a train between Blackfriars and East Croydon for more than an hour with no air conditioning.
One added they were on a 'rammed' service to Brighton, describing the journey as a 'medical accident waiting to happen'.
Footage shows passengers jumping from the train onto the ground below and walking along the tracks as the sun beats down on them.
Many can be seen ragging suitcases behind them, or helping older passengers make the climb down.
It comes as temperatures peak today during the days long heatwave, with highs of 34°C, below the June record of 35.6°C in 1976.
Thameslink said: ' Due to a fault on a train between London Blackfriars and Herne Hill, some lines are blocked. We're working to gather more information on this incident.'
People living in London and the West Midlands are most at risk of becoming seriously ill in the extreme heat.
More than 10,000 people died prematurely in summer heatwaves between 2020 and 2024, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). More Trending
The agency has issued amber heat-health alerts across the country, running until 9am on Monday.
Dr Agostinho Sousa said: 'We have already seen warm weather across the week, and temperatures are set to increase in the coming days, exceeding 30°c in many areas.
'Our findings show that heat can result in serious health outcomes across the population, especially for older adults or those with pre-existing health conditions.
'It is therefore important to check on friends, family and neighbours who are more vulnerable and to take sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.'
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Family's plea for truth after man shot dead in 'case of mistaken identity'
MORE: Moment officer tells Christian street preacher 'it's all wrong' outside station
MORE: Sister charged with murdering film director in missing diamond Rolex case
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The Independent
10 hours ago
- The Independent
Passengers stuck on broken-down train ‘like an oven' on hottest day of the year
Passengers were forced to walk along a railway track in sizzling heat after they claimed they were being 'slow-cooked' inside a broken-down train carriage. British Transport Police freed dozens of Thameslink passengers after the train between London Blackfriars and Herne Hill broke down on Saturday. Temperatures soared to nearly 34C in some parts of the UK, making it the country's hottest day of the year so far. An enraged passenger said on social media: 'We have been stuck on this hot and humid train for over an hour. It is like an oven in here and we are being slow-cooked.' Passenger Clare added: 'We are stuck on this train, all boiling alive. No air con. Please can you get this train moving.' Another issued a plea for help, asking Thameslink when it would rescue people stuck inside the sweltering carriages with 'no AC'. Thameslink said the train broke down near Loughborough Junction due to a 'fault', which causes services across the network to undergo 'significant disruption'. A spokesperson said: 'Earlier today, a fault on a train near Loughborough Junction brought all services to a halt in the area, three of them outside station platforms. 'Without power and air conditioning on such a hot day, we pulled all resources from across Sussex and Kent to get personnel on site to safely evacuate passengers as quickly as possible along the track. 'This would have been a difficult and uncomfortable experience for our passengers and we are truly sorry. The safest place was to remain on the trains while we worked our hardest to get help to those on board.' An amber heat-health alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the first time since September 2023, for all regions in England remains in place over the weekend. The agency warned that significant impacts are likely across health and social care services, including an increase in demand, during the alert period. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London research warned that around 570 people could die due to the heat over the four days. The excess deaths were estimated to peak at 266 on Saturday when the heat will be at its most intense. London was predicted to have the greatest number of excess deaths at 129. The researchers said their assessment highlights how extreme heat poses a growing threat to public health in the UK. Many charities have also issued warnings as the hotter weather continues this week. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is encouraging people with heart conditions to take precautions to minimise potential health risks during a heatwave. Age UK has urged people to check in on older relatives, friends, and neighbours to see if they need anything and to make sure they are not feeling overwhelmed by the excessive heat. Meanwhile, the Met Office has warned Britons that a tornado could hit as severe thunderstorms are set to strike the UK within hours. The forecaster warned parts of the country 'could start to see tornado activity' later on Saturday as a yellow thunderstorm weather warning comes into force.
Metro
10 hours ago
- Metro
Passengers forced to evacuate train with no air conditioning after 'slowly cooki
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Passengers were forced to walk down sizzling train tracks after a Thameslink service became stuck in the 34°C heat. Customers on the service said they felt as if they were being 'slow cooked' after the train came to a halt – and the air conditioning stopped working. At least three trains had to stop in the middle of their journeys due to faults, with one service shown being evacuated. One customer wrote online: '[Thameslink] you will have hell to pay. We've been stuck on this hot and humid train for over an hour. 'The doors were closed because we were told we may be moving. That was 15 minutes ago. It's like an oven in here and we're being slow cooked.' Another took to socials to ask to be rescued, saying they had been stuck on a train between Blackfriars and East Croydon for more than an hour with no air conditioning. One added they were on a 'rammed' service to Brighton, describing the journey as a 'medical accident waiting to happen'. Footage shows passengers jumping from the train onto the ground below and walking along the tracks as the sun beats down on them. Many can be seen ragging suitcases behind them, or helping older passengers make the climb down. It comes as temperatures peak today during the days long heatwave, with highs of 34°C, below the June record of 35.6°C in 1976. Thameslink said: ' Due to a fault on a train between London Blackfriars and Herne Hill, some lines are blocked. We're working to gather more information on this incident.' People living in London and the West Midlands are most at risk of becoming seriously ill in the extreme heat. More than 10,000 people died prematurely in summer heatwaves between 2020 and 2024, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). More Trending The agency has issued amber heat-health alerts across the country, running until 9am on Monday. Dr Agostinho Sousa said: 'We have already seen warm weather across the week, and temperatures are set to increase in the coming days, exceeding 30°c in many areas. 'Our findings show that heat can result in serious health outcomes across the population, especially for older adults or those with pre-existing health conditions. 'It is therefore important to check on friends, family and neighbours who are more vulnerable and to take sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Family's plea for truth after man shot dead in 'case of mistaken identity' MORE: Moment officer tells Christian street preacher 'it's all wrong' outside station MORE: Sister charged with murdering film director in missing diamond Rolex case
Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Telegraph
How vaccine fears and summer holidays could trigger a measles surge
As the June heatwave begins and families prepare for a summer of festivals and flying off abroad, experts are warning that thousands may return home this year with an unwanted holiday souvenir. Measles – the highly infectious but preventable disease from the past – is making a concerning comeback. Already, a number of popular destinations – including France, Spain and Italy – have seen 'large' outbreaks, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Analysis by WHO Europe and Unicef reported 127,350 measles cases in the European region for 2024, double the number of cases reported for 2023. It is also the highest number since 1997. It's a similar story across the pond. Canada, which only recorded an average of 91 measles cases annually from 1998 to 2024, has 2,885 confirmed cases already this year. Meanwhile, there were more measles cases in the US during the first three months of 2025 than in all of 2024, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. 'It's essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with two MMR doses, especially if you are travelling this summer for holidays or visiting family,' says Dr Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA. 'Measles cases are picking up again in England and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK. 'Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences. Nobody wants this for their child and it's not something you want to experience when away on holiday.' While cases are still lower in the UK than they were in 2024, experts are also worried that unvaccinated people could contract the disease at large-scale events such as Glastonbury – which starts next week. 'Festivals are the perfect place for measles to spread,' says Dr Alasdair Wood, a consultant in health protection at UKHSA South West. 'We want festival-goers to enjoy their time at Glastonbury and other festivals this year. Being aware of the current health risks will help those attending enjoy their time as much as possible. If you're not fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, please contact your GP to see if you can get an appointment before coming to the festival.' Vaccine hesitancy and the declining MMR vaccination rates – only 85 per cent of UK children are receiving two doses, well below the 95 per cent needed for herd immunity – may well be the reason why a surge in measles is being predicted later this year. Dr Hana Patel, a GP, says that although she hasn't seen any cases of measles this year so far in her surgery in south-east London, like most health professionals, she's concerned that the pandemic as well as other factors are to blame for the lack of vaccinations in some parts of the UK. 'There have always been some communities who are vaccine hesitant – there is evidence that traveller communities don't have access to the same information most people do, or patients from particular areas from Europe, where they don't have a vaccine schedule, are two examples,' she says. 'But after Covid, I've noticed more people – even some doctors – who seem quite complacent about vaccines. 'It's not always a family's fault. If you have a transient population, perhaps a family in temporary accommodation who are then moved to another area, they might miss their letter or appointment. Or then they will get an appointment and then forget about it because it's not on everyone's mind all the time. It's really important to find out the challenges in each particular area and target them with specific help. 'Other parents may not understand that it's not just one vaccination but you need two to be fully protected. Children in larger families may also be at risk because parents think one child has had it and so they think that protects the others or they can't remember if the others have had it. Speaking a different language may be another factor. 'I really hope that more people get the vaccine done, because long-term consequences such as meningitis and hearing loss, are incredibly serious. We also have to remember the risks to pregnant women of being exposed to measles too (contracting measles can lead to severe complications with pregnancy and birth). It's more than just the child who has been vaccinated, it's the people around them too.' Dr Naveed Asif, a GP from the London General Practice, says he has encountered a diverse spectrum of patients who have been influenced by the misinformation surrounding vaccines. 'One notable instance involved a well-educated couple who meticulously researched every decision they make regarding their children's health,' he says. 'They came to me with a palpable sense of uncertainty after reading a negative article about the MMR vaccine. Despite the wealth of positive data supporting its safety and efficacy, they were fixated on that one negative report. 'I've also treated patients from backgrounds where traditional beliefs about health are prevalent. For example, families from South Asian communities often rely heavily on parental advice and anecdotal experiences. They might argue that they've never needed vaccines in their lives and feel confident in their decision to forgo them. This reliance on peer opinion can lead to a strong sense of community validation, but it can also perpetuate hesitancy about vaccinations. 'From my personal experience, I often see sick children presenting to their GP first, and I have encountered significantly unwell children whose parents have chosen not to vaccinate. These families often find themselves reliant on more invasive, distressing and intensive resources to support their child's illness. I firmly believe that exposing children to vaccines early, rather than keeping them unprotected, is more likely to build immunity and contribute to healthier, stronger adults overall.' But vaccine hesitancy is not the only factor. Although the figures for measles were low during the Covid pandemic, the lockdowns appear to have exacerbated the current increase in measles figures, with over 1.8 million infants in the WHO European region missing their vaccinations between 2020 and 2022. England had already experienced 2,911 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in 2024, the highest number of cases recorded annually since 2012. One young person was confirmed to have died in the UK last year of the disease. 'We have seen a steady decline in vaccination coverage for children over the past 10 years and we now find ourselves in a situation where the UK does not meet the WHO target of 95 per cent coverage for any routine childhood immunisations,' says Dr Helen Stewart, the officer for health improvement at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. 'The result of this trend is being felt already, with measles outbreaks occurring across the UK, increasing cases of whooping cough and poliovirus being found in sewage samples in London. 'Because the MMR vaccine has been so successful in preventing outbreaks, many parents and caregivers today have never witnessed the sometimes devastating impact measles can have on children and babies. Measles is one of the more contagious diseases – more transmissible than even Covid – and poses a serious threat, especially to children under the age of five. 'Paediatricians are particularly concerned about current and potential outbreaks in the UK, especially during the upcoming winter period. This is already an extremely tough time for health care professionals, with high surges in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza, as well as circulating Covid and group A streptococcus (GAS). To have another highly contagious, dangerous and preventable disease, making children sick, would be disastrous. Not only could it put other young patients at serious risk, it could also add further pressure to paediatric wards. 'We understand that vaccine hesitancy may be an issue in some instances, but evidence shows that accessibility and availability of health appointments plays a huge role in low uptake. We urge the UK Government to take forward the commitments of the NHS's vaccine strategy and work towards reversing this dangerous trend.' Six decades ago, up to more than half a million people in the UK could be affected by measles each year, and around 100 people would die annually. Author Roald Dahl's seven-year-old daughter was one such victim, dying of complications from the disease in 1962. Thousands were left with respiratory, brain or hearing problems. But the MMR vaccine changed everything. Introduced in 1968, it's thought to have prevented over 20 million measles cases and 4,500 deaths in the UK. When offered to all children in 1988 (and the second dose MMR vaccine was brought in for preschoolers in 1996), the number of cases in the UK fell dramatically. So much so that in 2017, WHO confirmed that the UK had achieved 'measles elimination status', something the US had already achieved in 2000. Despite the UK losing this status shortly afterwards, it regained it again in 2021 after the Covid pandemic. Yet now, doctors are facing real fears that it has taken a foothold once again. 'The challenge is not anecdotal, it is very real,' says Dr Benjamin Kasstan-Dabush of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 'There has been a global rise in measles cases, and two unvaccinated children died from measles in Texas this year, reminding us of just how dangerous this preventable disease is. 'High vaccination coverage helps to prevent the spread of disease, but rates are just not as high as they need to be. It is likely that the number of confirmed cases of measles does not reflect the actual burden of illness. 'This is particularly worrying because a child infected with measles can deteriorate rapidly, and there is always a risk of them developing encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). So, we should all be concerned about a predicted surge in measles cases.' Since January this year, 420 lab-confirmed measles cases have been reported in England, with London reporting almost half of all cases in the past four weeks. Outside the capital, Bristol has seen the highest number of cases, with 47 so far this year, followed by Leeds (29) and Essex (22). A number of other regions are also reporting outbreaks, with 25 per cent of cases in the North West, and 11 per cent in the West Midlands. Earlier this month, UKHSA published its monthly update showing there were 109 confirmed cases in April and 86 so far in May – most have been in unvaccinated children aged 10 years and under. 'We have seen a small increase in the number of measles cases in Birmingham over recent weeks,' says Dr Clara Day, the chief medical officer for NHS Birmingham and Solihull. 'We know how easy it is for viruses like this to spread within our communities, especially where we know there is a high number of unvaccinated people. 'Unfortunately we know that misinformation surrounding the MMR immunisation is prevalent, but it is safe, effective and the only protection we have against these illnesses. Measles in particular can be deadly in the most serious of cases, so I would encourage all parents to make informed decisions about whether to get their child immunised.'
