Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and Transport for London have unveiled a number of trials to be introduced by London Underground to cool the tube network.
New measures include the first full-scale trial of an award-winning groundwater cooling project at Victoria Tube station, a new ‘bore hole’ cooling technology at Stockwell station and new air-cooled trains, as well as more investment in tried and tested technologies.
Although TfL is investing “over £150 million” to reduce the temperature on the tube network the Mayor and London Underground warn that it will “take years, not months, to have a major impact.”
Mr Livingstone said “London’s Tube network is the oldest in the world and its design makes cooling the system extremely difficult” and that despite the investment “there will inevitably be times when the Tube is hot and uncomfortable”.
London Underground Managing Director, Tim O’Toole described the project to lower temperatures as “a major and long-term engineering challenge”.
Mr O’Toole said “a large number of station ventilation fans which had previously been allowed to fall into disrepair have been brought back into service and portable industrial fans will be trialled in two stations.”
This summer London Underground will again be issuing its tips to passengers on how to try and Stay Cool’ on the network. Posters will be displayed at all stations bearing the following advice. Announcements will also be made at stations:
TfL have issued the following tips for keeping comfortable in hot weather:
- Carry water with you;
- Don’t board a train if you feel unwell;
- If you feel unwell please get off at the next stop and seek help from our staff; and
- Avoid pulling the passenger alarm between stations.
