Morning:
5°c
Tube too hot for cattle as station shops cash in
Amar Singh, Felix Allen and Lucia Binding2 Jul 2009
As London headed for its hottest day of the year, shops across the Tube network were today accused of cashing in by overpricing bottled water.
At midday temperatures had reached 27C in central London, and were expected to rise to 32C during the afternoon.
This would have beaten Britain's highest temperature this year, 31.8C, which was recorded on Tuesday at Wisely in Surrey.
Temperatures on some parts of the Tube were already so high they made the network officially unfit for transporting cattle. The European legal maximum for moving cattle is 27C but the thermometer on the Bakerloo line in central London recorded temperatures exceeding 35C yesterday.
The Standard found humidity inside some carriages was at 59 per cent while the apparent temperature felt by passengers was 43C. The Northern line was almost as bad at 34.5C, while the Circle and Victoria lines reached 33.5C.
Overnight temperatures were also high, averaging 16C. “London had a very hot, humid and uncomfortable night,” said Dave Britten of the Met Office.
“However, the current heatwave is likely to end tomorrow, with showers predicted across London.”
Temperatures are still expected to hit 27C tomorrow before dropping to 24C over the weekend. The hottest day of the year came as an Evening Standard investigation found some Underground station shops sold mineral water to parched passengers at three times supermarket prices.
Although London Underground urges passengers to carry water during hot weather, a 500ml bottle of Buxton cost as much as £1.35 at Upper Crust in High Street Kensington station. It was one of several bottles we bought at stations along the Circle line.
At Treats in Baker Street station, a bottle of Volvic cost £1.10 — but only 38p at a nearby Tesco.
At Piece of Cake in Liverpool Street, Buxton mineral water cost £1.19 — at Waitrose it was just 40p.
Javed Abib, manager of Finlays in South Kensington — which sells a bottle of Volvic for 90p — said: “The cost of the bottle from the wholesalers has gone up. We buy it for 70p and sell it for 90p. I know it is cheaper in Tesco but I don't have a big car to pick it up — the wholesaler delivers directly to me. It is a free market. My rent is £98,000.”
The manager of Treats declined to comment and both Upper Crust and Piece of Cake were unavailable for comment. A Transport for London spokesman said it had no control over prices charged by traders who leased the retail space.
Jo Debank, of London Travelwatch, said: “There is a wider issue here about lack of facilities in stations and a lack of water fountains, which would be welcomed during this time.”
Air-conditioning systems are due to be installed on some Underground trains from next year — but only on the sub-surface lines.
Air-conditioned trains will be introduced on the Metropolitan line, then the Hammersmith and City, Circle and District lines.
Allergy sufferers were warned to brace themselves because of high pollen counts caused by the soaring temperatures.
Reader views (57)
Do what i did, I put on a suit made of ice cubes, and went around giving commuters cool down hugs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnSo_EPZf1k
- Will, watford uk, 13/07/2009 16:51
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why not wear a hat soaked in water so it will keep you cool & start a trend, go the brits 
- Mr Shlumpy, sydney,Australia, 03/07/2009 02:53
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Move to NZ. Here we drive to work with the air-con in the car, and park for free! The horrors of the tube - a distant memory. Kia-Ora.
- D D, Auckland, NZ, 03/07/2009 02:10
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I suppose we should be counting our blessings in a way: imagine if we had to travel with cattle in these temperatures? I'm not looking forward to them coming back when the temperature drops
- Mdj E10, london uk, 03/07/2009 00:57
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when i was a kid,you could stand on the platform and feel the cool air being pushed down on to the station.
what happened? i was told that they built on the sites that pumped the air down to the underground,
- Jimfred, London UK, 03/07/2009 00:19
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Oh for crying out loud people, 32 in london!! Please please please never come to australia, last summer we had two weeks of over 38 and 4 days of over 42 and we are in the south of the country. If we weren't allowed to move cattle over 27 we wouldn't have a cattle industry. grin and bear it.
- Damien Crossling, Naracoorte, South Australia, 02/07/2009 23:09
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I resent the implication that I overcharge for water at my shops. How do you expect me to sustain my houses and my cars and most of all, my wife!
- Tangomike, Kensington, London, 02/07/2009 23:09
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Water bottles have been a fashion accessory since March. I manage a journey without flashing one. I don't have sunglasses clamped to my head either.
- Michael, Kensington, UK, 02/07/2009 18:11
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Would rather pay £1.10 for a bottle than pay £3.28 a day in council tax. At least I get enjoyment out of the water where as other get enjoyment out of my council tax.
- Mike, London, 02/07/2009 17:45
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LONDON UNDERGROUND HAS A LEGAL DUTY OF CARE TO ALL CUSTOMERS IF THEY RUN A SERVICE THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH NORMAL HUMAN HEALTH THEN THEY SHOULS SUPPLY COOL WATER AND BASIC TOILETS, BUT AS YOU KNOW AND I WE ARE IN THE UK THEY ALL GET AWAY WITH MURDER SO TO SPEAK,WHAT HAPPENED TO HEALTH AND SAFETY THIS CATTLE TRAVEL SHOULD BE CLOSED IT IS NOT FIT FOR HUMANS IT IS A NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT IT STINKS TO HIGH HEAVENS AND THEY HAVE A GAUL TO CHARGE TO TRAVEL ON IT ,ONLY IN THE UK
- Patrick, HOLLAND, 02/07/2009 17:38
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Tokyo's system is completely airconed, including the platforms. They started construction of the system over 80 years ago and yet still they manage to do it right, deep lines included. Britian, it seems, is too poor to afford a proper subway system. If I hear another person coming up with the we have the oldest system, its too expensive, we have the best sort of excuses I think I'll puke.
Get a grip and face the reality, England is barely 1st world, it should give up pretense of being a leading nation, stop fighting wars overseas. Charity begins at home. Once we have sorted the UK out, we can help the rest of the world out!
- Sam, London, 02/07/2009 17:27
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If it were cattle instead of human beings the Tube would be shut down. When I lived in London for 60 years I saw
it's transformation in to the biggest "rip off " city in Europe. Restaurants, cafes, The Tube, Buses and taxis plus parking and the congestion tax (don'ty tel me its a charge) are way over the top in the prices they charge.So no wonder that in a hatwavwe when we should all help each other traders charge "rip off" prices for water.
- Strongbow Sullivan, Paris,France., 02/07/2009 17:19
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As well as the Underground don't forget the modern trains on the surface lines where the air-con units are struggling to keep the interior of the trains cool. Some do not work and there is not the option to open windows. I personally like the older trains with no air-con and drop light windows. At least you get a nice breeze in the carriage as the train moves.
- Rodders, Feltham SWTland, 02/07/2009 17:12
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If you do drink water on the Tube, and you need a pee, there are no public loos any more on the whole LU system. Still, we have the plague at Westminster, why not on the Underground?
- L.Taubler, London / ENGLAND, 02/07/2009 16:59
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"allan"
who said it was just women that need water?? So all women smoke do they? And they are also all hypochondriacs??
wow you must be a real hit with the ladies.
- D.C, london, 02/07/2009 16:27
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Water fountains? Surely that's tap water, and most silly women would be frightened of "toxins" (with a cigarette at the ready for when they get into the street).
- Allan, London, 02/07/2009 15:51
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@ Wolf in Berlin : I cannot agree with you that the tube in Berlin is any better than the one in London. It is also hot and crowded and we are currently having huge problems with the other train services in town!
- Katrina, Berlin, Germany, 02/07/2009 15:23
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There must be mains water near every platform for firefighting; why no drinking fountains?
- Mdj E10, london uk, 02/07/2009 15:21
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Don't forget we are not cattle we are subjects.
- A.Taxpayer, london, 02/07/2009 15:12
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TFL ought to turf out the scoundrels running shops on tube platforms and make them into chilled zones with water dispensers.
- Squiz, Islington, 02/07/2009 15:10
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Why can't the tube have supplies of free tap water on every platform? Better still, chilled tap water. Surely it's possible to invent something like a water-cooler, with a press-button to stop some idiot leaving the tap on? And a cup dispenser at (say) 20p per cup for those that didn't bring their own plastic cup or bottle?
Come on, ES, add the tube and the railways to the restaurants in your tap water campaign!
By the way, it is physically impossible to put air-con on either trains or platforms on the deep tube lines. Cooled air would get pushed down the tunnels by the trains. If they air-con'ed the trains, the heat would be pumped out into the tunnels, making the stations even hotter. Cooling the whole of several tens of miles of tunnel is just impossibly expensive.
- Nigel, London, 02/07/2009 15:09
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Boris, stop writing columns in the Daily Telegraph and sort out the tube!
- Steve Green, London, 02/07/2009 15:02
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I think you'll find that it was Ken who ordered the air conditioned trains that will be delivered on the sub-surface lines next year. Boris has wasted no time in claiming the credit for that one.
- Fm, London, 02/07/2009 14:46
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Wolf, Berlin, do you know how much older and how many more people the underground has to deal with compared to the ones you're talking about. No? Didn't think so! Shut up!
- Colin, London, 02/07/2009 14:43
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@Mike, London: The forthcoming cooling systems on some of the Tube lines are due to Ken Livingstone, not Boris Johnson. Johnson is very good at taking credit for innovations which were already in progress long before he arrived.
- Helen, West London, 02/07/2009 14:39
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For the record, Ken Livingstone was seeking an air conditioned solution as long ago as 2003 which might just give an indication of how difficult it is. Anybody that thinks that Boris has just clicked his fingers and produced air conditioning must be suffering from heatstroke!
- Carl, London, 02/07/2009 14:36
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The EU should change the law so that we can come under the same protection as cattle (wtf is going on in this world?). They always want to poke their crooked noses into our business anyway.
I have not been in the tube for a couple of weeks and plan to avoid it like swine flu. I walk or use the bus (of course not everyone has that option).
If people make a conscious effort to avoid the tube, you will save money and get some exercise at the same time.
You are being played like mugs? How long are you going to let them infringe your HUMAN RIGHTS?
- Ray Charles, London, 02/07/2009 14:32
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Why dont people just take water with them?? Seems the most logical thing to do!! Ken started the 'cooling the tube' project with TFL including the fans and new air con tubes a couple of years ago, but again boris reaps the fruits of his labours!!!Putting the fans in requires (believe it or not) a lot of preparation in terms of safety etc. And as for tube staff handing out bottled water 'whilst sunning ourselves', we actually do stuff like look after people who have taken ill on trains because they dont take water onto trains with them despite warnings right left and centre.
- Mel, London, 02/07/2009 14:25
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who is ken livingston?
- Henryk London, london uk, 02/07/2009 14:15
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Still a third world underground system with no a/c. What did they do with the money in the good years ? International embarrassment yet again. Same in our airports.
- Davidke, ramsey isle of man, 02/07/2009 13:59
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In Kiev the metro runs every few minutes always seems to be cool and costs 22pence a journey however far you want to go.
I am glad I don't live the capital city of a "developped" nation.
Joe in Kiev
- Joe, Kiev, Ukraine, 02/07/2009 13:42
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Rip off london and you guys pay these crazy prices for a bottle of water.
- Martin, sheffield, 02/07/2009 13:41
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TfL are shooting themselves in the foot - while they are attempting to cool the tube on one hand, their commercial bods insist on putting in electronic moving advertising units that will just increase the ambient temperature again - try feeling one of those moving ads on the escalators as you go past or standing under one of the projector ads on platforms at the end of the day when they have been on a few hours and feel the heat they give off... it just adds to the existing problems that the tube cooling needs to solve.
- Johnnyb, London, 02/07/2009 13:34
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I dont mind some of the smaller independent guys charging more, I simply wont buy there but its disgusting the likes of uppercrust charging such high prices when they are a massive UK wide chain! Then again their baguettes are hideously overpriced aswell! so what do you expect. Its just lucky that the likes of tescos and boots DO provide water at normal prices if you really HAVE to buy it.
- Michael James, SW3, 02/07/2009 13:32
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Sorry Frank you have got your facts wrong Boris didnt order the new trains with air con Ken Livingston did and as for the fans they were on trial when ken was in power so lets not all get carried away with praising Boris!!!!
- Anon, warford, 02/07/2009 13:28
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At least the cattle get a peaceful end to the misery with bolt through the head at their destination, I've got to do it all again tomorrow.
- Bob H, Streatham, 02/07/2009 13:18
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Simply :The worst metro in Europe, not even cattle would use it. Go to Germany or Czech to see how metro should look like....
- Wolf, Berlin, 02/07/2009 12:57
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Ken Leavingsoon was in power for ages and did nothing to help cool the tube, Boris got in and immediately ordered fans be installed. Reality is Boris does something, Ken did nothing. Go Boris!
- Mike, London, 02/07/2009 12:39
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We deserve all we get for going to work and living in London.I've had to endure this for years but it's still less of a hardship than work itself.
- Steve, London, 02/07/2009 12:34
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Those shops have always over-charged. At High street Ken i usually go into Boots where the same quanity of water is 2/3 the price. Vote with your feet
- Hugh, london, 02/07/2009 12:31
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I think it's great Boris is putting in air conditioning on the Tube, very much overdue and should have been done years ago! Shows Ken didn't care a jot about the Tube.
- Frank, London, 02/07/2009 12:29
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Of course it would be to hot for cattle given that they always wear the same leather coat!
Anyway arrived at Fenchurch Street on Wednesday night and boarded a nice fresh air conditioned train...
Thing is had the money the Tories wasted on privatising the railways been used for investment instead then millions more could have air con trains. While simply enlarging the tunnels (running and station) of the former Stanmore branch of the Bakerloo line from Baker Street to Finchley Road would have allowed the Jubilee Line to be built large enough to have air conditioned trains.
If the need for cooler stations is brought together with step free access it might be possible to install both in the same shaft and if opportunities that arise when sites are redeveloped were taken the costs would be much less. One day London may once again habve a Mayor that is capable of thinking like this as the present one is to reliant on a reliant!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 02/07/2009 12:13
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Can someone ask Boris to buy more of those fans he put in a year ago????
- Ally, London, 02/07/2009 11:58
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Can TFL and the Mayor buy more of those huge fans they have please and put them everywhere? Its boiling down there, it cant be healthy? Where is the bloody air con?
As for extending the tube, how about the bakerloo line down to lewisham via the old kent road please?
- Amy, Lewisham, 02/07/2009 11:53
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Bakerloo line has always been the hottest for some reason.
Walk up the stairs from Piccadilly to Bakerloo line at Piccadilly Circus and you can feel the difference.
It's like walking into an oven.
- Adam, Eastcote, Middx, UK, 02/07/2009 11:44
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On a lighter note, my cheating ex works on the underground. He hates hot weather at the best of times, so knowing that he's 'burning in hell' is making me very very happy.
- Happy & Grinning, London, 02/07/2009 11:21
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What do you mean too hot for cattle? We are the dumb cattle who willingly get on the tube! Overpriced bottled water? Naa... the shops should and will charge what the punter are prepared to pay .... it is the free, profiteering market we live in, innit
- Vij, Londonium, 02/07/2009 11:05
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TFL should make you take water on the tube as you eneter the barrier it would give the staff something to do instead of standing outside sunning them self
- Terry Chambers, London, 02/07/2009 11:00
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Erm, what's wrong with filling up a bottle at home, putting it in the fridge overnight,and taking it with you?
- Brian, London, 02/07/2009 10:55
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TFL should be putting aircon at every station on the platforms, a least then some of the cool air may get into the trains when on the platform, but instead they are wasting on mobile phone useage on the tube instead!
- Simon Palmer, London, 02/07/2009 10:54
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I expect that newsagents don't have a lot of choice in the prices they have to charge, and there isn't a lot of point moaning about it.
These people don't own the property they trade from, and the rent they pay will be linked to the location - a prime location within a tube station will cost several times more than one just a few yards away - location, location, location.
A lot of these places will be leased from London Transport itself, who will be extracting the maximum rent possible. So for them to say they have no control is not entirely true.
- George, London, 02/07/2009 10:48
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In this weather I carry a bottle of water with me wherever I go, whether using the Tube or not. No need to pay those ridiculous prices.
- Mcw, London, 02/07/2009 10:34
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The answer is: don't buy at these rip-off shops, keep some small bottles of water in your fridge and take one of those!
- Tinkerbelle, london, 02/07/2009 10:26
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In Barcelona you but a one and half litre bottle of chilled water from vending machines on stations for around 70p!
- Mark, South-East London, 02/07/2009 10:24
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TFL should be giving out free bottles of water when the heat rises a certain temperature.
It may be a good way of avoiding all the passengers ill on the train in the first place
- Josh, London, 02/07/2009 10:15
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£1.35?I'd rather die of dehydration than pay that.
- Steve, London, 02/07/2009 10:09
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If you are silly enough to pay these prices you have too much money
- Edward, london, 02/07/2009 10:00
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