Trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield suspended 'due to severe heat'

Trains between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield have been suspended this evening 'due to the severe heat'. Train operator TransPennine Express said 'disruption is expected to continue until further notice'.

Passengers are being warned not to travel, as scorching heatwave temperatures push towards the 40C mark across the region. A temperature high of 33.7C has been recorded so far today at the University of Manchester's Whitworth Observatory.

TransPennine Express said in a tweet: "Due to the severe heat today, services between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield have been suspended until further notice.

READ MORE: Boy, 16, who drowned in Salford Quays named as tributes pour in

"Disruption is expected until further notice. Customers are advised to DO NOT TRAVEL."

Blocked rail lines and cancelled trains are being reported in Greater Manchester today amid the heatwave's scorching temperatures. Meanwhile speed restrictions imposed on trains amid fears of rails buckling in the heat could more than double journey times for passengers, the chief spokesman for Network Rail said.

Rail operator Northern has issued alerts over service disruption between Manchester Piccadilly and Stalybridge, Manchester and Crewe and Manchester and Hadfield.

Lines are blocked due to damage to overhead electric wires between Manchester Piccadilly and Stalybridge. Trains between the stations could be cancelled or delayed - with disruption expected until the end of service today. TransPennine Express services are affected.

A fault with the signalling system between Manchester Piccadilly and Macclesfield and Crewe means all lines are currently blocked as well. As a result, trains running between the stations could be cancelled or delayed by up to