Train Service Halted in Oxfordshire After Air Conditioning Failure

m. service from London Marylebone to Stourbridge Junction at Banbury on Monday afternoon after the train's air conditioning system stopped working. Officials declared the conditions inside the five-coach train too hot to continue. Passengers described temperatures reaching 45 degrees Celsius with no cooling.

Crew members distributed bottled water before evacuating everyone at Banbury, the train's second scheduled stop.

The temperature at London's Kew Gardens reached 34.8 degrees Celsius on Monday, exceeding the previous May record of 32.8 degrees Celsius set in 1944. Hawarden Airport in Flintshire recorded 32.2 degrees Celsius, surpassing Wales's prior May record of 30.6 degrees Celsius from 1943.

Nine counties across England recorded temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius during the bank holiday. Eight regions met official heatwave criteria after three consecutive days at or above threshold levels. A Met Office meteorologist stated that temperatures near 35 degrees Celsius in May are rare and described the conditions as historic for the month.

Amber and yellow health alerts remained active across England on Monday evening, with forecasters warning temperatures could reach 35 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. Government advice urged people to avoid direct sunlight during peak hours. Tens of thousands visited beaches, lidos, and parks despite the warnings.

High pressure over Britain caused air to sink, compress, and warm, producing the elevated temperatures.