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OSLO: The heatwave in Europe has revealed vulnerabilities in the continent’s transportation infrastructure.
European countries are beginning to adapt by implementing various solutions such as utilizing drones or unmanned aircraft, artificial intelligence-powered sensors, and white paint to protect transportation infrastructure.
Extreme weather is also prompting Europe to invest in new technologies.
Norway was hit by temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius on Wednesday (15/7/2026), which is 10 degrees Celsius above normal for this year.
Meanwhile, according to Reuters Climate Monitor, temperatures across Western Europe on Wednesday were 5.5 degrees Celsius above the daily average.
With such high temperatures, for the northern European countries accustomed to cold weather, they must ensure that infrastructure continues to operate effectively. Therefore, workers at Oslo Airport in Norway are spraying the runway with water to keep it cool.
Officers sprayed approximately 9,000 liters of water on critical parts of the runway. These parts can be damaged at high temperatures as they soften under the weight of the aircraft.
“In Norway, asphalt must be resistant to extreme cold temperatures and sufficiently warm temperatures,” said Jørn Arvid Remark, operational engineer at the Norwegian state-owned airport operator, Avinor.
Oslo Airport is also testing new heat-resistant asphalt. This step is being taken as a form of adaptation to the high temperatures that trigger wildfires, causing thousands of additional deaths, and placing increasing pressure on infrastructure in Europe.
In addition to airports, Europe is anticipating the impact of high temperatures on its highway and railway networks.
The highways and railways in Europe, many of which were constructed several decades ago, are increasingly struggling to cope with the heat.
“Our infrastructure is not at all prepared to face the extreme weather events that we will experience,” said Chris Dodwell, Head of the Sustainability Center at Impax Asset Management.
On the railway network, high temperatures can cause the tracks to expand, and switches, signals, and electrical power to fail. However, other extreme weather conditions triggered by high temperatures can be even more disruptive.
“The most critical issue for the railway network is not the heat itself. Rather, it is the thunderstorms, strong winds, and landslides that frequently occur after heatwaves,” said Oliviero Baccelli, a professor at Bocconi University in Milan.
According to Baccelli, Italy has already experienced significant disruptions to its railway network, particularly on the Alpine routes, as a result of climate-related events.
England is also facing challenges with its railway network. Most of the railway infrastructure in England was designed for a narrower temperature range than the railway networks in Southern Europe.
John Lawrence, Chairman of the IET Railway Technical Network, stated that many components and systems of the railway are essentially “frozen in time.” According to Lawrence, it requires a substantial amount of funding to make the entire network heat-resistant.
Rail operators are exploring more stable rail bearing designs. They are also leveraging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and drones to inspect and monitor train tracks affected by heat.
Network Rail in England is committed to investing £2.6 billion between 2024 and 2029. This investment is aimed at making the rail network more resilient to increasingly severe weather conditions.
