Request ID: FOI-0840-2324 Date published: 12 July 2023
You asked
To whom it may concern,
I am looking for an FOI on the hottest Tube lines, including the Elizabeth line.
Having spoken to your press team and looked online, I can see that an FOI was last granted for this in 2019. I was wondering if it would be possible to get some updated figures on London Underground temperatures to reflect any possible temperature changes in the past five years.
We answered
TfL Ref: 0840-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 15 June 2023 asking for information about temperatures on the London Underground and Elizabeth line networks.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked for the following:
I am looking for an FOI on the hottest Tube lines, including the Elizabeth line.
Having spoken to your press team and looked online, I can see that an FOI was last granted for this in 2019. I was wondering if it would be possible to get some updated figures on London Underground temperatures to reflect any possible temperature changes in the past five years.
In reference to London Underground services, please see the attached spreadsheet for the requested data. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius and represent the average monthly temperatures recorded during evening peak hours. Measurements are taken at the tail end of each platform. Please note, this information has recently been published in response to another Environmental Information Regulations request – see: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-0711-2324 London Underground has robust hot weather plans in place to minimise potential disruption, and provides customer travel advice during hot weather periods.Air-conditioned Tube trains are in operation on 40 per cent of the Underground network and new air-conditioned trains will be introduced on the Piccadilly line from 2025, providing customers with more comfortable journeys. Further large scale investment in upgrading the rest of the deep Tube network will not be possible without continued capital investment from the Government from April 2024. There are also enhanced tunnel ventilation systems on both the Victoria and Jubilee lines, and on older parts of the Tube network which have fewer ventilation shafts, we have introduced a range of station cooling systems including industrial-sized fans and chiller units to pump in cold air.
All trains on the Elizabeth line network, which launched in 2022, are provided with air conditioning. We do not hold the data of interest for the Elizabeth line.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Jasmine Howard FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
