Morning:
13°c
A new map of the Underground has revealed the hottest spots for commuters.
The map of lines in Zones 1 and 2 was compiled by Transport for London to help identify areas with particularly high temperatures in mid-summer. The Central line has some of the worst spots, with the Bakerloo line also feeling the heat.
Tourist favourites Oxford Circus, Paddington and St Paul's are in the highest band.
According to the research by TfL's Cooling the Tube team, the network has recorded figures above 35C in all these areas, making the trains officially unfit for transporting cattle.
Reader views (9)
Sarah, are you being wilfully ignorant? The new Boris sanctioned trains were ordered by Ken Livingstone. Same as he ordered the new Victoria line trains. Had Boris been in power at the time, he also would have ordered aircon trains (sure the extra cost is small, or "piffling" for you Boris lovers) as that is what modern trains are. There is no cleverness behind it, he ordered the trains that would suit the line.
Unfortunately, with much of the public being ignorant, some people think because Boris is doing the press for it, he ordered them. Do you know how public transport works? Ken Livingstone never said it was impossible on the Underground, it is nigh on impossible for MOST of the Underground - mainly the bits that are characteristically "the tube". Do you even use the tube? Anyone who uses the tube would be aware that it is impossible to fit conventional air conditioning. I can understand why Boris Johnson would not be aware of that - he does not use the tube. Cycles apparently, or occasionally uses taxis.
- Saif, London
Despite all the attempts to rubbish my comment, I stand by what I said. Boris will be the one remembered for bringing air conditioning to the Tube, and for that he will be re-elected in 2012, with Ken a forgotten nobody who did nothing but create purposely false press releases about air conditioning being impossible on the Tube. Thankfully Boris has unveiled Ken's hypocrisy by launching these new trains.
- Sarah, London
Sarah is right. BORIS is doing something about it. I don't care what you naysayers say - he said in his manifesto that we would have air conditioning on the tube, and on his watch, we have air conditioning.
Why would he put that in his manifesto and talk about it if it was already being done.
Boris ordered the Circle line ones (aircon) and Ken ordered the new rubbish Victoria lines ones. You can tell that because Boris has not even mentioned it. Boris hardly needs to take credit for Ken's work!!!!
- Saif, London
As a kid in the 1960's,I stood on the platform at Tooting Bec,on the Northern Line and could feel a strong current of cool air rushing through the tunnel.
This had nothing to do with the arrival of a train,I was told that there were ventilation shafts.
Why is the tube so hot now?Have the ventilation shafts been built over?
- Jimfred, London UK
Sarah unless Boris has discovered new principles of physics, your wrong. But if he has give him a Nobel prize!
The subsurface lines, e.g. District, were originally designed for steam trains. They are mostly in double tunnels, are bigger, and the trains too - just compare sizes at say Hammersmith where the Piccadilly line trains run alongside those of the District line - and have regular vent holes (for letting out the steam)in the central area of London where they go underground.
It is perfectly possible to use air conditioning on trains for those lines and Ken (for whom I carry no candle) ordered new such trains some time ago. If you know anything about design and engineering, which you appear not to do, it is completely impossible to have ordered, designed and delivered the trains in the period since Boris became Mayor!
The deep level lines, eg Victoria, have narrow tunnels and poor ventilation. They run for long stretches or completely underground and none have any vent holes for the underground bits. Watch a train as it enters a station you will see what an incredibly tight fit it is in the tunnel.
Even if one could somehow squeeze airconditioning units on to the trains, refrigeration uses the principle of compression and rapid expansion of air to achieve its effect. It generates a lot of external heat - try putting your hand near the back of the fridge; in narrow tunnels with no vent holes, where does that heat go? That is the problem.
- William, London
Sarah
There is always one, do you know how long this takes to plan, you have feasibility studies, design work, procurement, lead in periods, etc, etc and thats well before anyone even thinks about installation, certainly not achievable in just over a year.
- David, London
Sarah. The air conditioned trains were comissioned by Ken. All Boris has done is taken the credit from the media and not. Whilst it is welcome it's clear from the map the the circle line isn't as much of a problem as the deep level lines.
If Boris comes up with something to sort out overheating on the deep lines THEN i'll be impressed, otherwise its just another case of a mayor who talks a lot but delivers little.
- Simon, London
Sarah - congratulations on demonstrating your ignorance to all the readers.
Ken ordered the air conditioned trains on the sub-surface lines years ago, Boris would have to be a magician to have them orderered and built in the one year he has been in power.
On the deep level lines there is still no prospect of air-conditioning, and Boris will have his work cut out to do anything about it.
As he's achieved very little else, I wouldn't hold my breath...
- D.W., London
It's good to know Boris is doing something about this with new air conditioned trains coming next year for the circle line. Whilst Ken blabbed on and on about them being impossible because of the width of the tunnels, Boris produced results. Excellent work.
- Sarah, London
