‘There’s air con in the office’: Londoners brave commute despite 40C heat on tube

Temperatures on the London Underground network reached almost 40C on Wednesday, with the Central Line recording highs of 39.4C.

This occurred on what was officially declared the hottest June day on record, with a provisional outdoor high of 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire, surpassing the 1976 record.

Despite the heat, commuters continued to use the Tube, though only around 40 per cent of trains are air-conditioned, with lines like the Metropolitan and Elizabeth Line remaining cooler at around 22C. “There’s air con in the office – that made us come into work!” one commuter told The Independent.

The Met Office issued a rare red warning for extreme heat across much of southern England, leading to many schools and offices remaining closed.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan acknowledged the capital's poor adaptation to climate change, and Transport for London warned of potential disruption to rail and Tube services, advising customers to consider if their journey was necessary.