Why is the London underground to hot?

Answer 1

It's so old (100 years+ in parts) that when it was built, it was never envisaged that so many people would be carried, and so ventilation was well down the 'major works' list, the thinking in those days being that the 'piston' effect of trains in a tube tunnel would be sufficient to move the air both in and out of the system.
As time has gone by, little has been done, mainly because of space limitations as well as cost, and so with all that body heat and the small amount of heat generated by the trains themselves it has been too much for the heat to be naturally absorbed by the earth around the tunnels, so we will just have to take a bit more care of ourselves in future before packing ourselves into a confined space in the middle of a heatwave - like taking some cold water with us!
The one consolation that we can look forward to is that new trains are on order (a mock-up was on show at Euston only a few weeks ago) and these will have air conditioning systems built into them, so all I can say is that relief is on the horizon. It's just that we'll all have to wait until 2008/9 before they start coming into service!

Answer 2

The ventilation system was designed in the Victorian era (when the system was built). The trains moving through the tunnels circulate the air. Problem is the air is not so fresh in most areas of the network. It doesn't help when the Underground is underneath a huge, heat producing city, and people are stuck like sardines in the tube trains.

It's something that will probably never be solved. Besides, for most journeys, you're in and out within 15 mins, so it's not too bad really.

Answer 3

I have been on the underground in many cities around the world. Most places have air conditioning on these trains. There is nothing more unpleasant about London than a hot summer day, taking the tube crammed full of sweating people with no air conditioning.

I assume this has been fixed on some of the train stock now.

Answer 4

Lack of proper investment and failure of many governments to keep some of the revenues we generate for creating a more comfortable atmosphere for us...
Isn’t it fantastic? True, it’s the oldest underground in the world. Does it have to feel and smell like it too? (especially on a hot summer day)?
From next year a single ticket will cost £4 - the most expensive underground in the world. Many stations still look like a rundown Turkish bath and are full of dirt and mice, there are no public toilets and signs like “Lower window to increase ventilation” and “Severe delays occurring on all lines because of signal failure” are just amazing to see in the 21st century?
May be it’s our own fault that we don’t take some action. Instead, we get a newspaper, bury our heads in it and read on in the heat how their last boss walked out with millions laughing his head off all the way to the bank...

Answer 5

Because the London Underground are too cheap to install air conditioners! It can be done and proposals have been put forward to this effect, but they are not prepared to spend the money to do it (clearly those who make that decision do not have to catch the tube everyday!) Instead they tell us that the system is too old and cannot be cooled. That is rubbish, they just don't want to spend the money to fix the potentially dangerous problem.

Answer 6

I hate giving History Lessons ...but as we all know ...are Underground Network is the oldest in the world. I hate ranting ...but on this instance ...i am going to rant! we bloody pay extortionate prices as it is ...all this privatisation of the Underground is a farce ...all it is doing is lining up the pockets for the fat cats ...They've got the blooming' cheek to tell us to be considerate in the following; for other passengers, in our hygiene. *That's a fair point, i can't stand people who have never heard of soap* also to bring water bottles. The money should be invested approaitely and accordingly. No bull crap it's gonna take years this and that ...it goes to show, what poxy Government we have. I might even get arrested for this ...as the word liberty doesn't exist anymore in this so called democratic country of ours!

Answer 7

Because it's underground, full of people, has no ventilation and usually pumps out heat all year regardless of the weather!

Answer 8

Because there are too many people and sometimes no windows on trains so you just run our of oxigen and feel hot, plus the warmth of the bodies make it even hotter.
And I agree that they are too old (100 years old wooden floors on some district line trains...)

Answer 9

Because there is hardly any ventilation and far too many people are crammed in.

I find the Victoria line to be the hottest.

Answer 10

Cos it is underground with no ventilation and full of people and trains...