Europe heatwave derails trains, lowers Rhine and Danube levels

Two train derailments in southern England, one near Lewes in Sussex and another in Essex, may have been caused by heat-buckled rails, Hindustan Times reports. The sweltering weather had already forced speed restrictions. Meanwhile, the drought has left the Rhine at Kaub just 12cm deep and the Danube similarly low, halting cruise ships and limiting barge traffic.

Romania shut down two reactors at its Cernavoda nuclear plant after the Danube fell too low for cooling, prompting a state of emergency. Hungary’s Paks reactors are running at reduced capacity. France’s Gravelines plant lost three reactors to jellyfish clogging its cooling system. Network Rail is reviewing its heat plans. Germany is shifting to shallower-draft barges, and Électricité de France is investing in drought resilience. Hungary plans an emergency weir at Paks.