Which Tube lines have air-conditioning? Weather warning issued in London

Temperatures are rising below ground as well as above
If you have to travel, it’s best to take water with you
AFP via Getty Images
Seren Morris|William Mata6 September 2023

London temperatures are soaring this week, to 30C and beyond, thanks to high pressure in the south-east of the UK, making Tube travel a hotter experience than usual.

The scorching temperatures are forecast to return to normal by the middle of next week.

As many lines do not have air-conditioning, commuting during this weather will be especially brutal.

The Victoria Line didn’t fall below an average of 24C last year – even in winter – and exceeded 31C in August last year. The highest recorded monthly temperature was on the Central Line, with an average of 31.3C last August.

So those braving the London Underground may consider taking another route to ensure they keep cool.

Which Tube lines have air-conditioning?

The following Tube lines have air-conditioning:

  • The Circle
  • Hammersmith & City
  • District
  • Metropolitan 

Additionally, the following transport services are also air-conditioned:

  • Overground
  • Northern City
  • Thameslink
  • Trams 
  • Elizabeth line

Which Tube lines don’t have air-conditioning?

Londoners may want to avoid the following lines, as they do not have air-conditioning.

  • Central
  • Bakerloo
  • Jubilee
  • Victoria
  • Piccadilly
  • Waterloo & City
  • Northern

UK Weather: Summer Heatwave 2022

UK Met Office Issues First 'Red Warning' For Extreme Heat
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Why isn’t there air-conditioning on all Tube lines?

There are a number of reasons the London Underground doesn’t have air-conditioning on most lines – one being that the Tube system is simply very old.

The oldest tunnels were built in the Victorian era and are just about big enough for the trains themselves, according to Engineering & Technology. Therefore, there wouldn’t be room to add air-conditioning equipment to trains.

Additionally, air-conditioning in the Tube could lead to excessive heating of tunnels, which could overheat passengers waiting on the platform.

However, the Tube might not always be as unbearable as it is today.

New train designs mean that the Piccadilly line could have air-conditioning by 2025, while the Central, Bakerloo and Waterloo & City lines are all due upgrades in the near future, according to Engineering & Technology.

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