How can you keep cool on the Tube this summer? (Picture: Getty Images)
Summer has finally reached the UK, with a spell of hot weather that has seen the mercury climb as high as 33.3°C in some parts of the country.
As much as we love the heat and sunshine, it makes for some pretty sticky conditions when it comes to the morning and evening commute – with temperatures soaring on the Tube as well as above ground.
To avoid a sweltering journey that sees you arrive at your destination drenched in sweat, you might want to opt for a route that will keep you as cool as possible.
But which Tube lines have air conditioning? And which other train and transport services offer it?
Which Tube lines have air conditioning?
Only a handful of London Underground lines currently have air conditioning, and they are as follows:
Circle
Hammersmith & City
District
Metropolitan
Elizabeth
The good news is that more are on the way, with the Piccadilly Line set to join the ranks of those lines with air con when its new trains come into service – although this won’t be until around 2025.
The Central Line won’t get air con until 2030 (Picture: Getty Images/Westend61)
The Bakerloo Line, Waterloo and City Line, and Central Line will also be getting air conditioned trains in the future but you might have to wait a while – particularly for the Central Line.
Speaking on a Twitter post in 2019, Central Line head of fleet Steve Lammin said: ‘We’ve improved ventilation systems on the current fleet.
‘New trains are coming in early 2030, under the Deep Tube Upgrade Program which will be delivered with full air cooling systems.’
Dates for the new Bakerloo and Waterloo and City Line trains have not been confirmed, and there are no plans for any upgrades to the Jubilee, Northern or Victoria Lines.
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Previous reports have suggested the Bakerloo Line is the hottest of all during warm weather, with reports that temperature on the trains soared to around 30°C during hot weather in July 2020.
This was closely followed by the Central, Victoria, Northern, and Jubilee Lines.
Why is the Central Line so hot?
The Central Line is one of the hottest tube lines because of its age and depth beneath the ground.
It is one of the oldest Underground routes in London and was opened as The Central Railway in 1900 with early extensions carried out in 1920 and in the 1940s.
The line is a deep-level tube which means it is at least 20 metres underground and travels through two small tunnels to reach each station.
This compact space and lack of ventilation stops the heat generated from dispersing and therefore keeps …read more
Source:: Metro
