Strange things have been happening beneath the streets of the UK’s capital city. The website BBC News reports hundreds of London underground commuters fainting from excessive heat. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) describes the situation as alarming. Is this the result of overcrowding, or global warming perhaps?
The Climate is Changing for London Underground Commuters
The Mayor of London’s official landing page admits, “London’s climate is changing. We’re having hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters. We’re also having extreme weather, like heavy rainfall and heatwaves more often.”
The London Evening Standard newspaper adds, “This is the future that nobody wants. Rising sea levels, storm surges and more rain mean tidal, river and flash flooding could hit London. The city is also vulnerable to overheating and drought like conditions, while hotter summers increase demand for air conditioning, putting more pressure on energy supplies.”
Alarmingly, The Situation Has Being Going on Since 2016
Transport for London statics reveal at least 825 London underground commuters have fainted on the ‘tube’ since 2016, from 08:00 and 08:59 in the morning. This is exceptionally high for a modern, largely air-conditioned metro during a short, two year period.
The BBC reports Mondays are the most ‘popular’ days for fainting followed by Tuesdays. We doubt too much partying explains this away. The RMT Union puts the blame at the door of inadequate air conditioning. Therefore something must have changed to push the effects of overcrowding to such high levels.
Thus, we are reasonably confident that global warming is making itself felt, deep below the streets of London. However we also concede that uncontrolled boarding is part of the explanation. “People genuinely can’t breathe at times,” one commuter explains.
“I was once crushed between two large men who pushed on to the train at Liverpool Street – which was already so packed. I was so squished the pressure on my chest and the lack of air caused me to faint standing up.”
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Preview Image: Deep Level Central Line
