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Get ready to swelter on Tube, travellers warned
By Dick Murray, Evening Standard Last updated at 12:29pm on 25.04.07Tube users were today warned they face the warmest summer ever on the network.
A double whammy of record numbers of passengers and record temperatures are set to combine to cause unbearable conditions.
Passenger numbers have already soared past a billion a year - far ahead of predictions.
Weather forecasters have, meanwhile, warned that even without the record temperatures seen in London in the last two summers, there is little prospect of a cooler than average season.
Tube bosses now say it will be "years" before the Underground system gets better and are telling passengers to prepare for the worst.
A senior Tube source said: "This summer, if the weather is as hot as some are predicting, it will be difficult down there.
"We are going to be completely honest with passengers. We have a strategy for mitigating the worst of the hot weather but it is going to take years to implement."
Last summer the Evening Standard recorded "apparent temperatures" of 47C (117F) on the Tube.
The apparent temperature combines air temperature with humidity to find out the true effect of heat. Official European Union guidelines state that cattle should not be transported in temperatures above 27C (81F).
London Underground is already planning to stockpile even more mineral water than before to hand out to overheated passengers.
They fear a repeat of last summer's string of delays which saw thousands of commuters at a time stuck in sweltering tunnels because of broken-down trains.
The Mayor also warned commuters to expect the worst before work is completed to cool the Tube. He said: "There are going to be a lot of very hot sticky summers on the Tube before we get this work done."
Last year Ken Livingstone warned of a "serious loss of life" if a train breaks down in a tunnel" and said: "We are in a real race now, otherwise four or five years down the road we could face having to close down some Tube lines because they are not safe for passengers in the temperatures they will be experiencing."
Over the next few weeks, the Mayor will reveal how Transport for London, the Tube's parent-company, plans to cool down the network. An LU spokesman said: "Prior to TfL taking control of the Tube, attempts to try and cool the system were haphazard. We are now implementing a coordinated programme."
Brian Cooke, chairman of London TravelWatch, said: "It is regrettable that moves to cool down the system will take years - but the only alternative would be to close down entire lines for years. The Underground was designed in an era where today's conditions did not come into it."
Reader views (15)
Ken Livingstone has made London a commuters nightmare - he has been obsessed with placing as many traffic lights up as he can, affecting both buses and cars by increasing their journey times or the amount spent queuing, charging to enter London and expanding that, now even suggesting to toll the Blackwall tunnell. And it is all because he wants us to use public transport system, that is dirty, overpriced, that cannot cope with London's growth and that constantly puts passengers health and safety at risk.
So we are forced to endure the hell of public transport if we have to travel within central London.
- Jenny, London
So we're penalised for driving to work with the congestion charge. The mayor openly admits that the tube network is possibly fatal with the expected temperatures and cyclists only have a fighting chance on London's busy roads.... True, I could walk but why should I? London is one of the most expensive cities to live in and yet I cannot understand why the capital is so incapable of providing a humane and reliable way to get to work.
- Tony B, London
Well, how about if TFL provides an ice cold bottle of Evian for everyone that boards their overcrowded and overheadted trains!
- Raminder Bhalla, Richmond
Don't swelter, buy a bike!
- Brian, Telford
I am soooo looking forward to coming out to Canary Wharf in the middle of summer and heavily pregnant - can't wait!
- Julie Mitchell, E14
Record number of passngers! What do you expect with open borders and mass immigration. No one ever relates the two.
- Grim Reaper, London
At least something is being done. The new subsurface line trains coming into service in 2009 will have air cooling, and the idea of pumping groundwater around the tunnel walls has found to be effective. TfL could have easily given up and just let us swelter for eternity, but they've found a solution. It will just take time to install, that's all.
- Darren, London
I'll stick with my 10 mile each way cycle thanks.
- Trevor Roll, London
If I recall it was hotter on the buses last year. I can sympathise with the complexities of providing air-con on a 100 year old tube network, however, how is it we've spent 1000's on those brand new bendy buses but forgot the air-con?
- Julian, London
I've long given up on using the underground anyway. It's a 20 minute walk from my office to Fenchurch St station, which is much more prefereable to risking the Central and District lines, and let's face it, with the much nicer weather, why not walk more anyway?
- Md, London, UK
Yes, so long as you're not smoking, drinking, eating anything containing fat, salt or sugar, wearing fur, playing rap music in the vicinity of minors, or planning a weekend involving field sports, flying long haul or driving a 4x4, knock yourself out!
- Milly Mossop, London, UK
Do TfL have a duty of care to its passengers? If so, would it not have to shut some lines or severely restrict passenger numbers if it got too hot? If someone sued them this summer I'm sure they'd have a chance to win.
- G, London
Why would I ever want to get on the sweaty Northern line, when I've found a great car-park just outside of the congestion zone for £7 a day. It takes me 25 minutes to drive there in air-conditioned comfort and then it's a pleasant 15 minute walk to my office.
The tube hasnt improved in the 25 years I have used it and it never will.
Good luck to anyone who thinks otherwise and is still waiting.
- Simon, London
And let's not forget that buses will have the heat on for most of the summer, so that will add to the pleasure of travelling on London Transport.
- Mm, London
Is it actually legal to be allowed on the tube when it gets so hot?
- Steve, L:ondon
