London commuters are facing temperatures that feel like 49°C in some Tube tunnels today, sparking outrage as Mayor Sadiq Khan comes under fire for his administration's failure to adequately address air conditioning on large parts of the network. The Met Office has issued a red warning for extreme heat across London and much of England, prompting calls for urgent action.
The majority of the Tube is still reliant on outdated trains that lack air conditioning, despite newer rolling stock being introduced on lines such as the Elizabeth Line, Metropolitan, Circle, District, and Hammersmith & City. Commuters have described the conditions in some deep-level tunnels as "oven-like", with temperatures rising above street level due to the lack of ventilation.
Transport for London (TfL) acknowledges that it needs to upgrade its cooling systems but says there are significant engineering and financial hurdles to overcome, including retrofitting existing tunnels. A long-term strategy is in place to introduce air-conditioned trains across the entire network, with new Piccadilly Line trains scheduled to arrive in several years.
Health officials have warned people to stay hydrated and avoid non-essential travel during peak heat hours, raising concerns about public health for vulnerable individuals on parts of the network without adequate cooling. This is a wider challenge facing urban infrastructure worldwide – adapting to climate change and its associated extreme weather events.
The fundamental issue of an outdated cooling system remains a pressing concern for Londoners, with calls growing for more immediate action from Mayor Khan's administration to address this critical problem before it's too late.