Cooling the London Underground

Plans to install giant chillers in London Tube stations Oxford Circus, Waterloo and Euston in order to save commuters from the merciless heat in summer were unveiled yesterday by the London Transport Authority. Other measures include pumping air, cooled by the water in River Thames, into the Victoria Station, and installing fans across 50 other stations. This measures are part of a £150 million scheme to cool the century old London underground.

Last summer, temperatures reached as high as 47 degrees Celsius and the mercury is expected to set new highs, judging by the mild winter this year.

I have came up with a couple of ideas to see me through summer as I commute in the London underground:

* Use the DLR whenever possible - it is more spacious and there are windows in the cabins which can be opened
* Travel earlier so as to allow the morning rush hour. Evenings should be fine when the temperature drops
* Carry a bottle of water with me
* Sit near the ventilation vents (usually the middle seats on the Northern Line)
* Stand near the end/start of each cabins - there are windows there pray hard that they can be opened

Am taking 2 weeks off in Singapore during August, so I should at least be able to escape 2 weeks of sticky London commute and enjoy the air-conditioning in the SMRT trains. Phew!