Passengers warned against non-essential rail travel on Wednesday - live updates

The BBC reports that UK rail operators are warning passengers against non-essential travel Wednesday and Thursday due to a rare red extreme heat warning issued by the Met Office for parts of southern England, the Midlands, and south Wales, with temperatures forecast to reach 38°C. The article provides substantive context including actual recorded temperatures (34.6°C in England, 32.2°C in Wales on the prior day), the Met Office's risk assessment language, and ripple effects across the UK (hundreds of schools closing). The reporting is corroborated by multiple outlets including The Guardian and The Independent, which add detail that intercity trains are expected to be worst affected and that Network Rail is advising people to check service availability; the BBC's own coverage provides additional European context showing this is part of a broader heat event affecting France, Spain, and Italy. Watch for updates on actual rail service cancellations and any extension of the red warning beyond Thursday, as well as whether the forecast temperatures materialize and what impacts occur in schools and infrastructure.