The sweltering Victoria line service had an average of 28.3°C in 2023, with temperatures at times rising to a scorching 31.3°C.
This made it warmer than the Caribbean island of St Lucia which averages at 27°C yearly, according to findings from the London Datastore released this month.
With the London Underground getting busier and global warming causing more frequent heatwaves, the Tube is likely to get even more uncomfortable as time goes on.
On her way to catch the Tube at Brixton station, HR assistant Mari Martinez, 26, explained how she was frustrated that other lines had air conditioning and the Victoria line didn’t.
She said: “The heat is too much, they need to do something about it like maybe installing fans or something.
“It’s not fair to expect people to walk into an oven every morning, especially when we pay so much for travel.”
Martinez commented on how people commuting are especially affected.
She said: “I get to work feeling sweaty and gross, it just makes summer less enjoyable.”
The Victoria Line runs underground the entire time but the Central Line, in which 29 of the 49 stations are above the ground, comes in close second for the hottest underground line.
Maintaining an average of 26.8°C, the Central line has not escaped its fair share of fiery criticism.
One Redditor targeted the service in a thread that asked: “Is the tube too hot for humans?”
Responses within the thread suggested “it’s called the Central line as it passes through the centre of the earth – that explains why it’s so hot” and “it’s coloured red, to remind everyone of hell.”
In April this year, the Evening Standard published an article responding to the claim that by 2050 the Tube would be too hot to use.
This is due to both global warming and the difficulty of adapting old infrastructure to work in new climates.
Accommodating the number of commuters in the 21st century is impressive given it was built in 1863, but it might not be able to adjust entirely to all modern demands, like increased temperatures.
From spotting an array of handheld fans to all the colours of the Stanley Cup it’s easy to tell that the London Underground may be efficient but isn’t the most comfortable mode of transport.
Aware of these concerns, TfL advertises to carry water with you and plays numerous safety announcements on particularly hot days.
In response to criticism about the ‘unbearable’ heat, TfL said they have laid out their next steps for the underground services.
A TfL spokesperson said: “On the Victoria line we have doubled the capacity of thirteen ventilation shafts, which provide more airflow.
“On the Central Line, we have installed solar reflective material on the external surface of train roofs and solar reducing films on windows to minimise solar gains into the carriages.”
Whether you’re travelling to St Lucia or Stockwell, without further innovations the Tube’s notorious heat may become an even greater challenge for commuters in the years to come.
With concerns about climate change introducing fast-shifting weather patterns, spikes in rainfall, and increased fire risks, the temperature may not be the only concern for our underground network.
