Do London tube trains have AC?

In 2010, new S-stock trains were delivered to replace the A, C and D stock trains on the subsurface Lines (Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City, and District). These have standard air-conditioning, as the subsurface tunnels are large enough to displace the exhausted hot air.



As of early 2026, some, but not all London Underground lines have air conditioning. You will find full air conditioning on the "sub-surface" lines: the District, Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines, as well as the modern Elizabeth Line. These trains are larger and run in wider tunnels where heat can be easily expelled. However, the "Deep Tube" lines (Central, Northern, Victoria, Piccadilly, Bakerloo, Jubilee) remain notoriously hot because the narrow, 100-year-old tunnels lack the ventilation to handle the heat generated by AC units. There is major 2026 news, though: the new Piccadilly Line trains are currently being tested and are scheduled to enter service starting in late 2026; these will be the first deep-level tube trains to feature air conditioning. Until then, Transport for London (TfL) relies on "platform cooling" systems and fans to lower temperatures on the deeper lines during the increasingly warm London summers.

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Wear light clothing. Even if you think you might need to wear a jacket, when you are on the hot Tube, it's likely you'll want to take it off immediately. Heavy, dark, thick clothing will make you more likely to sweat, and hold on to the sweat your body does produce – keeping you hot and clammy for longer.

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The London Underground is usually refered to as The Underground. In the UK, all trains are heated. All long-distance trains are air conditioned. Most, but not all, short-distance and commuter trains are also air conditioned.

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In July and August, the average tube temperature can be over 29°C. Note: The Deep Level lines are Bakerloo, Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria, and Waterloo and City. Sub-surface lines are the Circle, Hammersmith & City, District and Metropolitan lines.

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The deepest station is Hampstead on the Northern line, which runs down to 58.5 metres. 15. In Central London the deepest station below street level is also the Northern line.

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The Metropolitan line is the oldest underground railway in the world. The Metropolitan Railway opened in January 1863 and was an immediate success, though its construction took nearly two years and caused huge disruption in the streets.

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The Tube is a slang name for the London Underground, because the tunnels for some of the lines are round tubes running through the ground. The Underground serves 270 stations and over 408 km of track. From 2006 to 2007 over 1 billion passengers used the underground.

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