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East Coast Main Line closed due to high temperatures

EPA/Andy Rain Thameslink trainEPA/Andy Rain
Thameslink said it would not operate between London St Pancras International, Finsbury Park and either Peterborough or Cambridge

Rail services to and from Peterborough will be severely disrupted on Tuesday due to high temperatures.

The East Coast Main Line, connecting London and Edinburgh, will be closed between 12:00 and 20:00 BST.

But many operators said they would not run any trains all day.

Thameslink, London North Eastern Railway, East Midlands Railway, Great Northern and CrossCountry said no trains would be running to and from Peterborough.

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The line will be closed as it is more susceptible to high temperatures than others, for reasons including the design of the overhead electric wire supports.

Thameslink said it would not operate between London St Pancras International, Finsbury Park and either Peterborough or Cambridge.

Passengers have been advised not to travel.

Sam MacDougall, operations director for Network Rail, said: "Closing the line to traffic is always a last resort but it is the right thing to do to keep people safe on Tuesday given the unprecedented heatwave forecast.

"The forecast temperatures are well above those for which our infrastructure is designed, and safety must come first."

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