London weather: Commuters swelter in 'unbearable' 35C heat on rush hour trains

Packed: James Weller, a 20-year-old technology analyst, on a 34C train.
Lucy Young
Francesca Gillett14 September 2016

Londoners sweltered in temperatures hotter than Mexico today as soaring temperatures made rush hour buses and Tubes “unbearable”.

Commuters complained of the sweat and the smell as they were trapped in packed carriages with temperatures reaching up to 35C.

Today was the hottest day of the year so far – beating even July’s scorching heat and becoming the hottest September day in over a century.

The heatwave brought a high of 34.4C in Gravesend, Kent, making it the warmest September day since 1911.

Transport for London urged commuters to take care in the heat and carry bottles of water to stay cool.

Commuters reported being given free water and ice lollies by TfL staff across London stations.

But sweaty passengers on the Central Line – which saw temperatures grow by five degrees during evening rush hour to 35C – complained of the heat.

Lyn Luong, a 20-year-old technology analyst from Bow, was sweating and said: “I think the way I look now is I how I would describe the heat – unbearable.

Sweaty: Lyn Luong, 20, from Bow Church said the heat was "unbearable".
Lucy Young

“I think some people try to avoid the Tube, but if you have to take it you can’t really not, I have to work. Today has been particularly bad and on certain lines it’s worse than others.

Richa Dhingra, 33, from west London, said: “It’s so hot, there’s just no ventilation.

"I’ve been travelling on the London Central Line and I feel sick because it’s so hot, I can’t sit down because it’s so hot.

Heat: Richa Dhingra, 33, at the beginning of rush hour when the temperatures were climbing.
Lucy Young

“It’s everything about it, the sweat and the smell.”

Martin Hermann, 32, who works in finance and is visiting London from Germany, said: “It’s terrible, awful, really really bad.

“I thought these trains would have air conditioning. Go on any train in Beijing and know it’s much, much better in terms of ventilation.”

Emma Rostron, 26, was just visiting London for the day - but said she has been in worse temperatures.

"There’s just no air, no movement of air," she said.

Sweltering: Emma Rostron said "there's just no movement of air".
Lucy Young

“My brother used to commute and I know he used to say he’d get to work and say he’d need a shower by the time he got there.”

Other commuters took the heat in their stride.

Britton Lutz, 30, who lives in Notting Hill, said: “I’m from the middle of the US so this is not as awful as it could be.

Bright side: Britton Lutz, 30, said the heat was "not as awful as it could be".
Lucy Young

“But everyone I’ve talked to here certainly complains about it and has been very frustrated.”

Elsewhere on the Tube, commuters took to social media to complain of the heat but also thanked TfL for handing out water.

June Gundlack said on Twitter: "The heat on the tubes and trains in London tonight isn't comfy. Thank you @TfL for free ice lolly at Liverpool Street."

London Heatwave September 2016

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The high temperatures today meant Britain was as warm as Bangkok in Thailand, and hotter than Madrid and Los Angeles.

According to the forecast the hot weather looks set to continue throughout the week with tomorrow being close to 30C in parts.

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