Boris tests London's first air-conditioned Tube train

This week the Mayor visited a test track to see the first of the new air-conditioned trains planned to launch on the Metropolitan Line next summer.  But he admitted that  'Cooling the deeper Underground lines (Victoria, Piccadilly, Central, ...) remains a considerable challenge'.

So since Transport for London (TfL) can't do what really needs to be done they are doing something else instead; is this good enough? 

The following advice is still the best that TfL can do on the deep lines and Londoners must be left wondering whether this is acceptable for a global city in the 21st Century:

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

Avoid pulling the passenger alarm between stations

However there is better news for bus passengers with all new double-decker buses now being fitted with air-cooling systems and all double-decker buses in the Capital's fleet already fitted with extra opening windows. There are now over 2,000 double-decker buses with air cooling or forced air ventilation systems.  

There is some good news for Victoria Line users. According to Mayor Boris 'A crack team of engineers at Transport for London (TfL) is concentrating on the Victoria line in particular where we are doubling the capacity of the fans at all of the main ventilation shafts serving the line and adding cooling systems to four major stations.'

It is not clear whether Finsbury Park is one of the major stations mentioned; let's hope so!